French Ecology Minister Monique Barbut to resign over pesticide bill

Published Jul 21, 06:16 PM UTC

Monique Barbut, France's Minister for Ecological Transition, will tender her resignation before Wednesday's cabinet meeting, her entourage announced on July 21, 2026. The resignation follows Parliament's final adoption of an emergency agricultural bill that allows the derogatory and conditional reintroduction of two pesticides banned in France, including acetamiprid. Barbut stated she had no other option but to resign, saying 'Either you are a minister, or you are not a minister.' She was received by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu but left without comment. The bill, which reintroduces certain EU-authorized pesticides previously banned in France, has caused deep divisions in the National Assembly. Barbut had publicly opposed the measure, particularly the reintroduction of acetamiprid.

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