New French Prime Minister Elizabeth Bourne was immediately pressured by left-wing conservationists, who warned that “hopes are low”, that it would drastically reduce France’s carbon emissions or take swift action to tackle global warming. , despite Emmanuel Macron’s campaign promise to make France a world leader in climate emergencies.
Born’s first comments after taking office were a promise to “act faster and stronger” to tackle climate challenges after newly elected centrist President Macron promised his prime minister special oversight powers to plan France’s transition to “The first great nation to give up gas, oil and coal.”
Elysee is expected to announce a new French government in the coming days, which may include several ministers dedicated to “green planning”, after France has lagged behind in recent years in terms of tackling emissions and increasing renewable energy sources.
But Julien Bayou, leader of the Green Party, EELV, which joined the left-wing alliance led by radical left-wing Jean-Luc Melenchon in next month’s parliamentary elections, said “hopes are low”. He said the climate emergency would now be a key battleground for next month’s election, in which the left is seeking to win positions.
Baiu said Bourne shared with others in government “responsibility for five lost years on the environment” during Macron’s first term, saying that not enough had been done in terms of emissions or transport, nor in implementing the proposals. the Civil Assembly, which was randomly selected by civil society to advise on carbon reduction.
Jean-François Juilliard, head of Greenpeace in France, said Bourne needed to urgently and clearly define how to “transform French society” so that it loses less energy and natural resources.
Cecil Duflo, the former leader of the Greens, said: “Will there be freedom of action from the president, who has obviously never imposed his commitments on the environment?”
The appointment of France’s first female prime minister for more than 30 years has been hailed by many parties as an important step towards equality on the French political scene, which has often been criticized as “macho”.
As soon as he took office, Bourne met with lawmakers as he prepared to lead Macron’s broad centrist group in the June parliamentary elections against Melenchon’s left-wing alliance and Marin Le Pen’s far-right, both of whom want to increase their seats.
Born, 61, an engineer who served three ministerial roles during Macron’s first term in office – labor, transport and the environment – has never run for office. On Tuesday, she told lawmakers from Macron’s newly renamed Renaissance party that she would continue her own campaign to win parliamentary elections for a seat in Normandy in Calvados, where her mother’s family comes from. a political situation beyond her reputation as a technocrat.
“We need the largest possible majority,” Bourne told lawmakers.
In order for Macron to have a free hand in his internal repairs of the pension and social system, as well as changes in schools and the health service, he needs a solid majority in parliament. If Bourne does not win the post of Calvados, which is held by Macron’s party and is considered safe, its future as prime minister could be called into question.
Macron has already identified Born’s priorities, which include environmental policy, overhauling the education and health systems, returning France to full employment and restoring voter confidence in the democratic system.
But amid growing concerns about the cost of living crisis, Macron acknowledged during the campaign that he must oppose his image of being arrogant and removed and listen to concerns on the ground. Similarly, Bourne must show that he understands and can engage with local voters if he wants to push through Macron’s contested pension overhaul plan to shift the retirement age from 62 to 64 or 65.
Bourne said he believed that political policy was shaped by “dialogue”. But left-wing unions were already preparing a pension challenge. “She listens but she doesn’t hear, she’s like Macron,” said Philip Martinez of the left-wing CGT union.
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