“We cannot abandon French farmers,” said Geoffroy Didier, Vice-President of Republicans

In just a few days, the petition aimed at repealing the Dupumb law brought together more than a million signatures. A cry, not only citizen, but also political, in particular on the left. Political guest of Alix Bouilhaguet on Franceinfo, the vice-president of the Republicans, Geoffroy Didier, defended the adoption of the law and affirms that it was voted by “national representation“. He also demonstrated his support for François Bayrou’s budgetary proposals.

This text corresponds to the transcription of part of the interview above. Click on the video to watch the maintenance in full.

Alix Bouilhaguet: There will be a debate in the National Assembly, but it will be a debate without a vote, without a prospect of repealing this text. The French can say “we are not listened to”.

Geoffroy Didier: It is a law that was voted by 60 % of deputies and 70 % of senators, that is to say by the vast majority of national representation.

You know that there was a motion of rejection, that it was a complicated journey.

I just call the facts for spectators. Today there are a million signatories, which is still an emotion of civil society that must be taken into account. There are no environmentalists on one side and on the other non-ecologists. Today there is an emotion which will arouse a debate in Parliament, which will not repeal the law, but which will also allow us to better understand why we do not find today the system which makes it possible to avoid pesticides.

But a debate for nothing since this pesticide which has been prohibited since 2018 will be reintroduced in agriculture. So what is a petition for?

And you know that this pesticide is legal in 26 other countries of the European Union. So we cannot abandon French farmers either, who would not have the right to use certain pesticides, for example acetamipride which makes it possible to fight against pests for beet producers. And then, let import in France products which are put in place by farmers who would have the right to use these pesticides, and who come from Italy, Spain, Greece, from all over the European Union.

But is there not a denial of democracy? What is it for? A million hundred and sixty-eight signatories and a petition that is going to do anything, since on arrival there will be nothing. We can understand the excitement of those who oppose the reintroduction of pesticides.

I understand the excitement, but I also want us to find solutions for French farmers who cannot be victims of unfair competition from products from the entire European Union. There must be European harmonization. And the only way to harmonize on a European scale and not to seal French farmers is precisely to authorize, even temporarily, what other European countries accept and tolerate legally. We cannot abandon French farmers. Afterwards, there is an emotion of civil society. I take note. It will arouse a debate. But does that call into question a law voted by national representation? No. You know, it is democracy. Democracy means that there are deputies and senators who have mainly voted. That there is a debate in Parliament, very well. But again, let’s think of French farmers.

Marine Tondelier requests the President of the Republic a second deliberation of the Duplob law. Could Emmanuel Macron hear it?

Me, I am not against the fact that there is a debate, but if there is a debate, we must put everything on the table. Let us put on the table the fact that we must find absolutely a solution for French farmers. Sorry to insist this morning, but it’s essential. I started by telling you that there are not environmentalists and on the other hand non-ecologists. There are not those who take care of the health of farmers and the French and those who do not deal with it. There are just major elements that are the health of the French and the possibility for French farmers to get out of it and continue to sell their products.

Last week, the Prime Minister presented the main orientations of his budget. He struck hard, nearly 44 billion euros in savings to be made in 2026. Do you already share his observation, that is to say that we are today at the last station before the cliff and the crushing by debt?

You know that the debt increases by 5,000 euros per second. What does our interview last? About ten minutes. This means that the time of our interview, public debt will have increased by 3 million euros. And above all, we have a public expenditure rate which is 10 points higher than that of the euro zone. If we could even harmonize French public spending on European public spending, we would be very happy. So in front of this, there is a choice. There are those who are followers of public spending, who want retirement at 60, who always want more civil servants. This is the national and LFI gathering. But I tell you, if tomorrow it is LFI who directs, the day after tomorrow it will be the IMF. And then there is another choice, which is that of the Republicans, which is that of the central block. That of having a spirit of responsibility to try to master public spending and then if possible to have a growth policy.

Click on the video to watch the maintenance in full.