Petition against the Duplomb law: more than 1.5 million signatures, the government is walking on eggshells

More than 1.5 million signatures : in the face of unprecedented citizen mobilization against the Duplomb law, criticized for its environmental impact, some voices within the presidential camp are calling for the National Agency for Health Security to be contacted, and the government has said it is "available" for a new debate in Parliament.

The scope of such a debate would, however, remain limited, because although the different political groups will be able to express their positions, it will not, on its own, allow for a review of the provisions already adopted.

The petition, launched by a student on the National Assembly website, denounces this law which notably provides for the reintroduction by way of derogation of acetamiprid, a pesticide from the neonicotinoid family - banned in France, but authorized in Europe.

In just ten days, it has collected more than 1.5 million signatures. This is well above the threshold of 500,000 required to secure a debate in session, if the Conference of Presidents of the National Assembly, which sets the agenda, so decides in mid-September when parliament resumes.

An outcome that is now little in doubt, with many political leaders having spoken out in favor, including those in support of the bill, starting with the President of the National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet (Renaissance). The leader of the MoDem deputies, Marc Fesneau, has also expressed his readiness to support the initiative.

Marine Le Pen echoed the same sentiment, having voted for the law but believing that "only a democratic debate" could restore citizens' "confidence" in the face of the "lies" she believed accompanied the petition. Under pressure, Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard said Monday evening that the government was "fully available" for this debate.

The left, which opposed the law during its chaotic review, attempted to take advantage of this citizen mobilization. Jean-Luc Mélenchon (LFI) praised a "mass popular action."

"This is a fight that is only just beginning," warned Green Party MP Sandrine Rousseau. "During the next parliamentary recesses (days reserved for texts from political groups), each New Popular Front group will have the repeal of this law as its text," she assured. The Socialists confirmed that they intend to introduce "a bill repealing the serious setbacks of the Duplomb law at the start of the school year."

"The left and the environmentalists are being used as tools," respond its defenders, first and foremost its author, LR senator Laurent Duplomb on RMC . "When you demonize things and scare everyone, you can get this result."

Acetamiprid is being demanded by beet and hazelnut growers, who believe they have no alternative to combat pests and are facing unfair competition from their European competitors.

Conversely, beekeepers are warning of "a bee killer." Its effects on humans are also a source of concern, even if the risks remain uncertain due to a lack of large-scale studies. The presidential camp is seeking the right formula to take into account the success of the petition without calling into question the law passed in Parliament.

Gabriel Attal, leader of the presidential Renaissance party, thus called for the government to contact the National Agency for Food Safety (ANSES) so that it could give its opinion on the text before the possible future parliamentary debate, a proposal supported by the Minister of Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher.

But for Laurent Duplomb, the petition's main aim is to "put pressure on the Constitutional Council," which must rule on the law by August 10. If it approves it, the left is calling on Emmanuel Macron to then ask Parliament for a second deliberation, as the Constitution allows. Such a decision, however, could trigger a government crisis with the LR in the middle of summer.

"The path of this law is not complete since the Constitutional Council has been referred to it. The president cannot therefore speak until the Sages have rendered their decision," responded Emmanuel Macron's entourage.

The Duplomb Act contains other controversial measures, such as the role of ANSES and water storage for crop irrigation (mega-basins). It has been a focal point of tension for many months.

On Monday, Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin's entourage indicated that he would ask public prosecutors to be "extremely firm" in the face of the "unacceptable threats" suffered by "many parliamentarians" as a result of their vote on the Duplomb law. According to the Interior Ministry, nine "attacks" against parliamentarians (damage to office space, insults on social media, etc.) have been recorded.