To explain his resignation, Hulot states that he felt “all alone,” without anyone “behind him.”
In short, the former Minister of State blames himself for not being able to convince the majority of the urgency and severity of the environmental cause.
Several political leaders from the Côte d’Azur shared their reactions with us.
The necessity for a French and European environmental awakening!
We commend Nicolas HULOT for his work over the last 15 months in the Ministry of Ecological and Inclusive Transition. Unfortunately, we can only share his sad assessment of the government’s lack of ambition concerning environmental policies.
Climate change and the weakening of biodiversity are two disasters threatening future generations. Since the Environmental Grenelle led by Jean-Louis BORLOO, we lament the absence of truly substantial environmental policies.
The successor at this ministry will need not only to be a committed and courageous figure on environmental issues but also possess political means to achieve a real ecological transformation at the level of France and Europe.
Dr. Hervé CAEL, Co-delegate of the Alpes-Maritimes Federation of the Radical / Social Liberal Movement
Let’s be honest: given his personality and the radicality of his commitments to the planet’s future, Nicolas Hulot’s resignation is anything but a surprise.
Today, a little earlier or later, it was predictable from the day of his appointment which was itself a surprise.
On the other hand, the reasons for this resignation make it a political earthquake. Indeed, thanks to Hulot, the activity of lobbies in France is now under the spotlight. This means he has not only challenged political orientations (which can always be debated) but has raised nothing less than the question of democracy in our country.
Of course, the question is not new (cf. the admirable speech on the subject by Jean Gabin in “Le Président”), but in the era of multinationals and pension funds, it is much more serious. For an almost caricatural hunters’ lobby, how many powerful shadow lobbies measure their effectiveness by their ability to contain the general interest in favor of particular interests? And this in a country that, unlike the USA (see the superb and pertinent TV series “The West Wing”), lacks counter-powers to establish a certain balance or at least create a negotiating space.
In the coming weeks, the President and the Government will need to seriously correct course because the question is now posed and the French press, rather reticent on the subject, will probably conduct numerous investigations.
“President of the rich” is a qualifier one might refute; “President of the lobbies” would be obviously more complicated. Much more complicated.
Patrick Mottard, Co-delegate of the Alpes-Maritimes Federation of the Radical / Social Liberal Movement
The turning point of the mandate announced with the honest and respectable departure of Nicolas Hulot.
Nicolas HULOT was the only one who could push environmental issues forward. The turning point of the five-year term is here. The President of the Lobbies has overwhelmed the most famous ecologist and the most popular minister. Today’s ultimate humiliation with the hunters is the straw that breaks the camel’s back!
Laurent LANQUAR-CASTIEL praises the work and tenacity of the Minister of Ecology who had to relentlessly fight in a hostile government to achieve minor advances and prevent the worst. He notes that with this exemplary exercise, Nicolas HULOT demonstrates his integrity and the sincerity of his approach.
The ecologist had announced: “the national contract concluded by Candidate Macron with the French people against nationalism is not being honored. The executive couple is schizophrenic: between a President with humanistic speeches and a Government with ultra-capitalist decisions. It is no longer the Government that governs but the lobbies.”
The ecologist is familiar with “the stratagem: first make efforts and then just before elections, make ‘gifts.’ This was the strategy of President HOLLANDE and his Advisor MACRON: two years of recovery before redistribution, but the result is there: the redistribution was never felt.”
Laurent LANQUAR-CASTIEL concludes that “The back-to-school period caricatures a conservative right-wing policy by asking the working classes to make efforts to benefit the rich, in vain hope that they will redistribute. The Government cynically applies an elitist ultra-capitalist dogma that hasn’t worked for 50 years, which even the most conservative right wouldn’t dare. It’s time to change. The European elections are an opportunity for this. This double discourse is used for the economy as much as for ecology, solidarity, health, international politics… this double discourse is unbearable for the citizens.
The reshuffle is therefore inevitable with the departure of one of the most important ministers: the dance of the contenders will begin for his succession.”
Laurent Lanquar-Castel, departmental secretary of EE-LV
