logo
What comes next for French anti-pesticide petition signed by over a million?

What comes next for French anti-pesticide petition signed by over a million?

LeMonde21-07-2025
The law adopted by French Parliament aiming to "lift constraints on exercising the profession of farmer" has racked up several firsts. Ahead of the first reading in the Assemblée Nationale, it had been rejected by its own supporters without debate, in a paradoxical parliamentary maneuver intended to speed up its eventual adoption earlier this month. The so-called Duplomb Law is now the subject of the first citizens' petition to surpass the 500,000 signature mark on the Assemblée Nationale's website (and over 1.2 million by Monday morning), a threshold that opens the possibility for a debate in the Assemblée, when it returns to work in September.
Launched by 23-year-old student Eléonore Pattery, the petition calling for the Duplomb Law's repeal has achieved unprecedented success, shattering all previous records. Created on July 10, just two days after the Assemblée Nationale definitively adopted the bill, the initiative emerged from outside of typical activist and NGO circles. Pattery, who has declined to express herself in the media, said on her social media accounts that she is not affiliated with any political party. Through the petition, she said she had sought to denounce what she and the million other signatories consider to be the "scientific, ethical, environmental and public health aberration" embodied by the new law.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Algeria pushes back against Macron's tough line in diplomatic standoff
Algeria pushes back against Macron's tough line in diplomatic standoff

LeMonde

time2 hours ago

  • LeMonde

Algeria pushes back against Macron's tough line in diplomatic standoff

Algeria pushed back against President Emmanuel Macron's call for Paris to get tougher with its former colony on Thursday, August 7, saying France was seeking to "exonerate" itself from any blame as their standoff drags on. Tensions between Paris and Algiers have reached new levels in recent months, with Macron's hopes of the historic post-colonial reconciliation that he espoused at the start of his presidency now appearing a distant dream. "France must be strong and command respect," Macron said, in a letter to Prime Minister Francois Bayrou that was published by the daily newspaper Le Figaro online late on Wednesday. "It can only obtain this from its partners if it itself shows them the respect it demands. This basic rule also applies to Algeria," the letter said. The Algerian foreign ministry said Macron's remarks sought to "exonerate France from all its responsibilities" as relations between the two countries continue to fray, accusing Paris of putting "all the blame on the Algerian side." Atrocities committed by both sides during the 1954-1962 Algerian War of Independence have long strained relations, even half a century later. Measures targeting diplomatic passports Among the measures Macron requested from his government in his letter was the "formal" suspension of a 2013 agreement with Algiers "concerning visa exemptions for official and diplomatic passports." Algiers said that "France, and France alone" had pushed for that agreement. Macron also asked his government to "immediately" use a provision in a 2024 immigration law, which allows the refusal of short-stay visas to holders of service and diplomatic passports, as well as long-stay visas to all applicants. To prevent Algerian diplomats from being able to travel to France via a third country, France will ask its EU partners in the Schengen free travel zone to cooperate with this measure. Imprisoned writer and journalist A major bone of contention has been Algeria's imprisonment of French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal and prominent French football journalist Christophe Gleizes. Paris has also accused pro-Algiers influencers of inciting hatred in France. In the letter, Macron referred to the cases of Sansal, who was sentenced to five years in prison for "undermining national unity," and Gleizes, sentenced to seven years for "apology for terrorism." Supporters of both men say they are entirely innocent and victims of the current political tensions. Macron insisted that his "objective remains to restore effective and ambitious relations with Algeria." The dispute Western Sahara Macron angered Algiers in July 2024 when he backed Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara, where Algeria supports the pro-independence Polisario Front. Upping tensions further, Algerian consulates in France have suspended cooperation with French government services on returning Algerians deemed dangerous back to Algeria after being ordered to leave by Paris. The French government fears that it will have to release Algerian nationals currently detained in detention centres due to the inability to keep them there indefinitely.

France to rule on controversial bee-killing pesticide bill
France to rule on controversial bee-killing pesticide bill

France 24

time3 hours ago

  • France 24

France to rule on controversial bee-killing pesticide bill

The so-called "Duplomb law" has sparked public anger for permitting a return of acetamiprid -- a chemical known to be toxic to pollinators, such as bees, and to the environment. A student-led petition against the bill garnered more than two million signatures after lawmakers adopted its reintroduction on July 8, when it was rushed through a deeply-divided lower house of parliament without a proper debate. President Emmanuel Macron has said he is waiting to hear the verdict of the Constitutional Council, which is expected to deliver its ruling on the constitutionality of the law at 6:00 pm (1600 GMT). If the law is upheld, Macron will have two weeks to enact it or request a second vote in parliament. Banned in France since 2018, acetamiprid remains legal in the European Union, and proponents say that some French farmers need it to help them compete economically. The insecticide is particularly sought after by beet and hazelnut growers, who say that they have no alternative against pests and face unfair competition. But the petition on France's lower-house National Assembly's website, which has garnered more than 2.1 million signatures, calls the measure a "frontal attack on public health". Beekeepers have described the chemical as "a bee killer", and its effects on humans are also a source of concern, though its risk remains unclear in the absence of large-scale studies. Left-wing lawmakers, who referred the bill for constitutional review, said it violates France's environmental charter which guarantees the "right to live in a balanced and healthy environment". For some opponents, frustration stretches beyond environmental and health concerns to exasperation over the country's political deadlock. One supporter of the petition called it "democratic revenge" after Macron forced a controversial pension reform through parliament in 2023 and dissolved the lower chamber last year, sparking political turmoil that resulted in a hung parliament. According to a poll published in La Tribune Dimanche in late July, 64 percent of people surveyed hope that Macron will not sign the bill into law but will instead submit it to a new debate in parliament. In late June, before the law's passage, several thousand demonstrators — including farmers, environmental organisations and scientists -- rallied across France calling for the bill to be withdrawn.

El Al airline's Paris office vandalised with anti-Israel graffiti
El Al airline's Paris office vandalised with anti-Israel graffiti

Euronews

time3 hours ago

  • Euronews

El Al airline's Paris office vandalised with anti-Israel graffiti

Israeli airline El Al said Thursday that its Paris office was vandalised with anti-Israel graffiti, in what it said was a 'deeply disturbing' attack on its premises. The graffiti was found early on Thursday, and no one was hurt, according to El Al airline. The office was empty when the incident occurred, the airline said. The airline said it was handling the matter with the 'utmost gravity' and working 'in close coordination' with authorities in France and Israel. El Al said it 'unequivocally condemns all forms of violence, particularly those driven by hatred,' adding that its planes 'proudly' display the Israeli flag. Israel's Foreign Ministry described the attack as "antisemitic" and urged the French government to bring the perpetrators to justice, ensure the safety of El Al staff and offices. The incident comes amid diplomatic friction following French President Emmanuel Macron's pledge last month to recognise a Palestinian state — a move strongly opposed by Israel. Earlier on Thursday, Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev blamed the policies of Macron for the anti-Israeli graffiti. 'Today it's El Al, tomorrow it's Air France,' she wrote on social media platform X. 'When President Macron makes announcements that give gifts to Hamas, this is the result.' Russian intelligence services involved? The vandalism bears similarities to other apparent antisemitic attacks on Jewish sites in Paris in recent years, with authorities stating before that there was reason to believe Russian intelligence services were involved in a bid to stir tensions in the French society. In May, three synagogues, a Jewish restaurant, and the Shoah Memorial were among the several Jewish sites vandalised with green paint in Paris. Authorities in Paris immediately launched an investigation into "damage committed on religious grounds". Two days later, three Serbian nationals were reportedly arrested in the southeastern region of Alpes-Maritimes as they were preparing to leave France. In May 2024, red hands were painted at the Parisian memorial for those who saved people from the city's Jewish community from Nazi persecution during the 1940-1944 occupation of France. Three Bulgarian nationals were identified by French authorities as being behind the tags. In October 2023, dozens of Stars of David were graffitied on walls in Paris and its outskirts. In that case, two Moldovan nationals were apprehended, according to domestic press. French security services said a Moldovan-Russian businessman was identified as their potential handler. In the 2023 case, media including AFP and Le Monde cited French intelligence sources saying that the vandalism had been "commissioned by Russian security services". Moscow denied any involvement and described the reports as "stupid" and "outrageous". France has a large Jewish population, which has made it a frequent flashpoint for rising antisemitism. In recent years, reports of antisemitic incidents have surged in the country, with a sharp rise reported in 2023 after the 7 October Hamas-led attacks in Israel.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store