PARIS — A significant movement initiated by a 23-year-old university student has led to the collection of more than 549,000 signatures on a petition aimed at repealing a contentious farming law in France. This remarkable achievement has surpassed the necessary threshold for parliamentary debate, marking a historic moment in the French legislative landscape.
Background on the controversial farming law
Earlier this month, the French parliament ratified the law known as “Loi Duplomb,” named after one of its key advocates. Proponents argue that the legislation will alleviate burdens on farmers by reducing bureaucratic hurdles. However, it has also raised concerns due to its temporary provision allowing the use of acetamiprid, an insecticide banned in France since 2018.
This law has received the backing of the government as well as significant agricultural associations such as FNSEA and Jeunes Agriculteurs. Conversely, it has faced opposition from a left-leaning farmers’ union and various green and left-wing political groups.
The petition and its implications
The petition, spearheaded by Eleonore Pattery, a relatively unknown student from Bordeaux specializing in environmental regulations, argues against the law, labeling it “a scientific, ethical, environmental and health aberration.” The momentum of the petition surged past the 500,000 signature mark, allowing leaders of parliamentary groups or committees the opportunity to propose an official debate on the matter.
“It is the first time it happens in the history of the National Assembly,”
said Aurélie Trouvé, president of the National Assembly’s economic affairs committee and member of the left-wing France Unbowed party, in a conversation with POLITICO on Saturday. She indicated plans to present this proposal in the fall.
Despite the petition’s success, the proposal for a debate must first be approved by the National Assembly’s Conference of Presidents, which is comprised of key lawmakers, including the leaders of permanent parliamentary committees like Trouvé. This assembly is scheduled to reconvene on September 12.
“I hope that we will be able to have this debate,” Trouvé remarked, emphasizing that failure to address the petition would represent a “democratic denial.”
While the law cannot be repealed directly through parliamentary debate, the overwhelming support for the petition is viewed as a setback for the government and the farmer lobbies that have championed the legislation. Additionally, France’s Constitutional Council is currently reviewing the law, which could lead to parts of it being struck down if deemed unconstitutional.