Guillaume Kasbarian, the newly appointed Minister of Civil Service, vowed to “de-bureaucratize” during his debut. He expressed his commitment to freeing the French people from the burden of administrative procedures and simplifying the functioning of the public sector. However, this strong stance raised concerns among trade unions, with Mylène Jacquot from CFDT-Fonctions publiques arguing that it is not appropriate to pit users against the 5.7 million public sector employees. Kasbarian emphasized that simplification should not compromise the quality of public service and that his goal is to make life easier for both the French citizens and public sector employees.
The Minister adopted Article 15 of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, which states that society has the right to demand accountability from any public official. Despite Kasbarian’s intentions, some organizations like Solidaires-Fonction publique expressed apprehensions about the addition of the word “simplification” to the ministry’s title, associating it with potential staff reductions and a decline in the quality of public services. While acknowledging his predecessor’s “ambitious” reforms in the public sector, Kasbarian did not specify how he would address them, given that the proposed legislation was put on hold due to the dissolution of the Assembly.
Kasbarian’s vision for his mandate was to carry out reforms that would streamline and modernize the public sector while ensuring that the quality of service is maintained. Amidst the concerns from trade unions and skepticism over the potential impact of simplification on public services, Kasbarian stood by his commitment to make the lives of French citizens and public sector workers easier. The Ministry of Civil Service under his leadership was expected to focus on improving efficiency and effectiveness while upholding the values of accountability and transparency.
As Kasbarian assumed his role as Minister of Civil Service, he highlighted the importance of balancing the need for simplification with the preservation of high-quality public services. In his effort to de-bureaucratize the system, he aimed to promote accountability among public officials and ensure that administrative procedures are streamlined for the benefit of all stakeholders. The challenges ahead included addressing the concerns raised by trade unions and finding common ground on the ways to improve the public sector without compromising its integrity.
The Ministry of Civil Service, under Kasbarian’s leadership, faced a delicate balancing act of promoting efficiency and accessibility in public services while maintaining the trust and support of public sector employees and trade unions. Kasbarian’s commitment to de-bureaucratize the system and simplify administrative processes was met with cautious optimism from some quarters, while others expressed reservations about the potential consequences of such reforms. Ultimately, the success of Kasbarian’s mandate would depend on his ability to navigate these complexities and implement changes that benefit both the public and the public sector employees.
