Strong criticism around the appointment of Christophe Béchu, new Minister of Ecological Transition – Midi Libre

Barely appointed, the new Minister of Ecological Transition is already the subject of strong criticism. Christophe Béchu, mayor of Angers, is accused by the environmental fringe of the political class of an overall lack of knowledge in the field. Christophe Béchu has therefore just taken over from Amélie de Montchalin as head of the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion. He was already in charge of local authorities in the previous executive. Sandrine Rousseau, scathing Straight from the right, Christophe Béchu, mayor of Angers, was secretary general of the center-right party Horizons. He is close to former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe. An appointment that makes the environmental political class react. Starting with Sandrine Rousseau, EELV (Europe Ecology The Greens) MP for the 9th district of Paris. “One thing is already certain: never met Christophe Béchu on the slightest environmental struggle”, split the ecofeminist in a publication on Twitter. One thing is already certain: never met @ChristopheBechu on the slightest environmental struggle.— Sandrine Rousseau (@sandrousseau) July 4, 2022 Lack of ambition Critics of the government’s lack of ecological ambition have also been raised on the side of some NGO. “Christophe Béchu is symptomatic of the government’s lack of vision on environmental issues”, denounces Greenpeace through Jean-François Julliard, director general. The latter evokes a “politician with no experience on the issues of ecological transition, and who has almost never taken a position on national or international climate or environmental issues.” And to denounce: “The inability of the government to appoint a personality recognized for his skills on ecological issues.” Controversial decisions Still at Greenpeace, Clément Sénéchal, the organization’s “climate” spokesperson, recalls Christophe Béchu’s opposition to “the banning of bee-killing neonicotinoids when he was a senator.” But the current mayor of Angers is also accused of having shared conservative ideas in the past. He would have censored in Angers an HIV prevention campaign where gay couples were visible, because of the “shocking nature of the messages”, reports Liberation. Similarly, he is said to have strongly opposed homosexual marriage and to have written a retrograde column in the ultra-right magazine Current Values. Defended by his relatives From the point of view of his allies, Christophe Béchu is the right profile to occupy the Ministry of Ecological Transition. “He has an advantage for this position, the fact of knowing the territories well. It is a different profile from that of Amélie de Montchalin, who comes from the technostructure” underlined Matthieu Orphelin, former deputy of the present majority. A more positive vision than on the left shared by Stéphane Gachet, regional councilor for Pays de la Loire in Ouest France: “The controversy is sterile and the facts are stubborn: for several years, Angers, thanks to its mayor, Christophe Béchu, has been prancing at the top of the list of cities where it is good to live, in particular on the basis of environmental criteria.” A divisive profile that should not fail to agitate the debates in the Assembly at a time of climate emergency.