Large corporations receive protection from the French government, prioritizing their interests over public health concerns during crises.
In a controversial move, Marine Le Pen, the leader of a far-right party, has expressed her support for the Duplomb Law, a legislation that aims to reauthorize certain banned neonicotinoid pesticides. This stance has been met with significant public opposition and debate among various political parties, environmental organizations, and farmers' unions.
The Duplomb Law, proposed by right-wing senator Laurent Duplomb, was passed without debate by aligning with the right and the governing coalition. However, the Constitutional Council annulled a key article of the law, citing environmental and health risks. President Emmanuel Macron subsequently signed the remainder of the law into law, allowing it to proceed without the controversial re-authorization provision.
The annulment of the pesticide article sparked criticism from Le Pen, who accused the judges of "behaving like a legislature while they have no democratic legitimacy." This stance reflects her opposition to the Council's blocking of the law’s core provision.
The petition against the Duplomb law, which has garnered over 2 million signatures, has brought attention to the potential risks associated with the reintroduction of neonicotinoids. The petition has been widely publicized in media outlets and has led to protests in several cities across France, causing concern for the governing coalition.
Le Pen has defended the Duplomb Law on social media, emphasizing its importance for easing restrictions on farmers. In a tweet, she expressed regret about the "lies" accompanying the petition against the law, but also stated that she fully supports holding a parliamentary debate on the Duplomb Law. This apparent contradiction may arise from Le Pen expressing regret about misinformation surrounding the petition while simultaneously endorsing debate and defending the law itself.
Le Pen and her National Rally (RN) party defend neonicotinoids as necessary to "lift constraints on exercising the profession of farmer," opposing what they consider excessive environmental regulation that harms agricultural productivity. This position is echoed by farmers' unions, though it remains highly contested by environmental groups and much of public opinion.
In summary, Marine Le Pen supports the Duplomb Law and the conditional reauthorization of neonicotinoid pesticides it sought to restore. She defends the law as pro-farmer and necessary against what she sees as unfair restrictions. She criticizes the Constitutional Council’s partial annulment of the law as undemocratic. Her statements on social media reflect these stances, sometimes nuanced to acknowledge the large petition while maintaining support for the law. The petition against the Duplomb law has gained significant support and has prompted a call for a reevaluation of the law's implications.
The Duplomb Law's partial annulment by the Constitutional Council has led to heated debates in the realm of policy-and-legislation, specifically regarding the reauthorization of neonicotinoid pesticides. Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally party, has expressed her stance on social media, advocating for the law and denouncing the Council's decision as undemocratic.
The ongoing controversy over the Duplomb Law, including Le Pen's support and criticism of its annulment, falls under the umbrella of general-news discussions, as it involves political parties, environmental organizations, farmers' unions, and public opinion.
