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French Environment Minister Barbut withdraws resignation after Macron intervention over pesticide ban
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French Environment Minister Monique Barbut initially resigned on Wednesday after the Senate introduced amendments to an agriculture bill allowing the use of controversial pesticides like acetamiprid, which she had been assured would be blocked. However, following a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron, she agreed to remain in her post, citing the urgent need to address climate change impacts and environmental health issues. Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon praised Barbut's expertise. Barbut, 69, is the eighth environment minister since Macron took office in 2017. Her tasks will include leading France towards COP31 and an international plastics treaty agreement in early 2027.
Source report
Paris – French Environment Minister Monique Barbut announced on Wednesday that she would remain in office after President Emmanuel Macron declined to accept the resignation she had submitted earlier that day.
Barbut's initial decision to resign was triggered by the Senate's introduction of amendments to an agriculture bill, passed on Tuesday, which permit farmers to use controversial pesticides, including acetamiprid.
"I had been assured that the reintroduction of a banned pesticide would put an end to the text's journey," Barbut wrote in a LinkedIn post on Wednesday morning, explaining her reasoning.
However, later on Wednesday, following a meeting with Macron, Barbut's office told AFP that she had agreed to stay in her post "in light of the urgent need to take action against the consequences of climate change, which are hitting the country hard, and to address environmental health issues."
"We have a woman who knows her subjects inside out," said government spokesperson Maud Bregeon as she left the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday. "That's exactly the sort of person we need in a government team."
Barbut's responsibilities will now include leading France toward COP31 and securing an agreement on the international plastics treaty in early 2027, just weeks before the end of Macron's second term.
At 69, Barbut is the eighth person to head the environment ministry since President Macron took office in 2017.
Source
EuractivWestern
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