Élysée: five advisors replaced, Clara Chappaz in charge of digital affairs

The Presidency of the Republic is carrying out a reshuffle of its cabinet. The decree of August 31, 2026 (NOR PREX2623212A), published in the Official Journal of the French Republic No. 0203 on September 1, 2026, terminates the duties of five advisors and simultaneously appoints five new profiles, including Clara Chappaz for attractiveness, digital affairs, and artificial intelligence.

This text, signed by the Presidency of the Republic, illustrates a rebalancing of presidential priorities around the issues of industrial sovereignty, agricultural transition, and digital technology. The terminations of duties and appointments take effect on staggered dates between June 1 and September 1, 2026, reflecting a progressive recomposition of the Elysée team.

Terminations of duties

Article 1 of the decree terminates the duties of five cabinet members, across various scopes ranging from communication to European policy:

• Baptiste Rossi, speechwriter advisor, effective July 6, 2026;
• Claire Vernet-Garnier, advisor for industry, innovation, digital affairs, and public holdings, effective July 27, 2026;
• Sibylle Samoyault, deputy chief of staff, effective August 24, 2026;
• Victoire Vandeville, advisor for attractiveness, exports, trade policies, and tourism, effective September 1, 2026;
• Alix Maisonnave, technical advisor for Europe, effective September 1, 2026.

Appointments to the Presidency

Article 2 of the decree appoints five new advisors, several of whom take over expanded or redefined portfolios:

• Xavier Vant, advisor for agriculture, food, forestry, and fisheries, effective June 1, 2026;
• Mariana Caillaud, advisor for industry and public holdings, effective July 27, 2026;
• Clara Chappaz, advisor for attractiveness, digital affairs, and artificial intelligence, effective August 17, 2026;
• Guillaume Chabory, deputy chief of staff, effective August 24, 2026;
• Benoît Lerosey, technical advisor for Europe, effective September 1, 2026.

A signal on presidential priorities

The creation of a portfolio dedicated to attractiveness, digital affairs, and artificial intelligence, entrusted to Clara Chappaz, marks a notable shift: the “digital” scope is now explicitly linked to AI and territorial attractiveness, whereas it was previously merged with industry and innovation. Similarly, the appointment of Xavier Vant to agriculture, food, forestry, and fisheries confirms the importance placed on food sovereignty.

The replacement of Victoire Vandeville (attractiveness, exports, trade policies, and tourism) by Clara Chappaz within a refocused scope, as well as the takeover of the Europe portfolio by Benoît Lerosey, outline a streamlined team centered on economic and European issues. The decree, which will be published in the Journal officiel de la République française, takes effect immediately for the most recent appointments.

For readers, this Elysée reshuffle is an indicator of the five-year term’s directions: the rise of artificial intelligence and economic attractiveness, continuity on agricultural and industrial files, and sustained attention to European affairs. The new advisors, in post as of summer 2026, will be responsible for translating these priorities into the daily actions of the presidency.

Official source: Decree of August 31, 2026, regarding the cessation of functions and appointments to the presidency of the Republic, NOR PREX2623212A, published in the Journal officiel de la République française No. 0203 of September 1, 2026.