France: Elisabeth Borne's baptism of fire at the Agricultural Show
Audio 01:09
French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne toasts, glass in hand, in the spans of the 59th edition of the Paris Agricultural Show, this Monday, February 27, 2023. AFP - CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
It was Elisabeth Borne's turn to walk the aisles of the Agricultural Show, Porte de Versailles, in Paris, two days after Emmanuel Macron, this Monday, February 27, 2023. The French Prime Minister above all sought not to make waves.
But in addition to the inevitable interpellation on pensions, it announced a plan to develop alternatives for the most important phytosanitary products.
Reporting.
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With our special correspondents at the Agricultural Show,
Richard Riffonneau and Julien Chavanne
For her baptism of fire in her costume as Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne sought to avoid bad images.
A smooth start to the day at the Overseas stand.
Smiles and a head of government who doesn't dare say no when offered food or drink.
"
I'm just finishing the rum and...so it's just me drinking here
?"
»
So she plays the game, thoroughly.
Even if it means forcing its nature a little.
“
What not to do, huh
!
“, she says in passing.
But Elisabeth Borne does not escape the subjects that annoy.
This breeder from Normandy criticizes him for the standards that poison his daily life: "
I think that it is absolutely necessary that our politicians leave their office, and that they come to the field to explain, and that we explain to you how we work .
Put on your boots and come see how a day goes, I welcome you whenever you want!
»
“
You can count on us.
We try to do it
, ”he hears himself answer.
The Prime Minister dodges, without responding to this farmer.
The eel strategy will not last: Ms. Borne would then talk about the sensitive issue of pesticides.
Not to mention the subject of pensions which of course came its way.
On pensions
The reform that is currently agitating France arrives in committee in the Senate, this Tuesday, February 28.
The government has made gestures towards the right which dominates the Senate.
The boss of LR senators has set his conditions on the senior index or long careers.
On the sidelines of her visit to the Salon, Elisabeth Borne expressed confidence in a possible agreement with the right in the Senate.
I can assure you that exchanges take place constantly between my teams, the senators, the team of course of Minister Olivier Dussopt... All the figures are obviously on the table.
Then we work on all the amendments.
Exchanges will continue between the Minister, between my team, between myself and the presidents of the parliamentary groups and the President of the Senate in the coming days.
Me, I noted a will of the Senate to vote this reform of the pensions.
There are requests for improvement, we will obviously examine them.
At the Agricultural Show, Elisabeth Borne talks about the pension reform in the Senate
Bertrand Haeckler
On pesticides
During her visit, Elisabeth Borne announced "
a plan for the development of alternatives for the most important phytosanitary products
", promising farmers state support and assuring that she would not repeat "
the mistakes of chlordecone
".
The Prime Minister was referring here to the pesticide used until 1993 in French banana plantations in the West Indies, the cause of many cancers and great distrust on the spot.
“
Our approach is based on science and the opinions of scientists.
This is the method we apply to all products.
The other cardinal point is that we do not compromise with public health.
No one here wants to repeat the mistakes of chlordecone
, ”considers Élisabeth Borne.
“
In concrete terms, this means seeking to identify new uses, new tools and new products to better protect crops, while preserving our biodiversity
,” she explained.
In the wake of President Macron, she mentioned the idea of a plan aimed in particular at coordinating France's action with that of the EU, with a view to offering "
visibility
" to actors in the sectors concerning products that they may or may not use.
“
I want to be clear,
she insisted.
In terms of phytosanitary products, we will now respect the European framework and nothing but the European framework.
In recent years, France had instead chosen to ban certain substances still authorized within the EU.
Period gone, then.
"
We will not create any regulatory distortion for our producers, except in cases of force majeure, when public health is threatened
", nevertheless made a point of specifying the Prime Minister.
With agencies
►Also read: At the Agricultural Show, Macron protects the rural world in the face of upheavals
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Agriculture and Fishing
France
French politics
Elisabeth Borne