Critique by Laurent Saint-Martin on Bruno Retailleau's stance on renewable energy: He expresses discomfort that Retailleau continues to serve in the government despite his opposition to renewable energy sources.
Laurent Saint-Martin, Junior Minister for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad, reiterated his criticism of Bruno Retailleau's stance on renewable energies during an interview on France Inter and their website on July 6. The ongoing debate about Retailleau's role in the government, particularly his criticism of renewable energies, has sparked firm opposition within the government, with the Environment Minister and President Emmanuel Macron leading the rebuttal.
During the interview, Saint-Martin advocated for "collective discipline" within the government to prevent conflicting positions and avoid cacophony. He found it bothersome that Retailleau, the Minister of the Interior, continues to take positions on policies outside his portfolio, such as his recent op-ed against renewable energies.
In his op-ed, Retailleau argued for an absolute priority for nuclear power and against public support for wind and solar energy. However, the Environment Minister strongly criticised this position, calling it "absurd and dangerous" from various perspectives, including industrial, economic, social, and geopolitical. The minister emphasised that such a strategy would increase dependence on gas imports, undermine the renewables sector, and potentially harm France's commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050.
President Macron also reaffirmed the government's commitment to the renewable sector, stating that France needs renewable energy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. This underscores the government's ongoing support for the renewable sector, despite conservative opposition.
Saint-Martin believes that when ministers take positions on policies outside their portfolios and contrary to the Prime Minister's decision, it doesn't make sense. He suggested that ministers should first take positions on issues concerning their portfolios. He emphasised the investments made in renewable energies in recent years as proof of their importance in the energy mix.
The debate about Retailleau's role in the government and his stance on renewable energies continues, with Saint-Martin's interview on July 6 reaffirming his criticism of Retailleau's position. Despite the disagreements, it is clear that within the government, Retailleau's outside-portfolio involvement, especially on renewables, is met with firm opposition.
- The ongoing debate within the government, revolving around Bruno Retailleau's stance on renewable energies, has extended to discussions on finance and energy policies, as the Environment Minister criticized Retailleau's viewpoint as "absurd and dangerous" from both an industrial and economic perspective.
- Laurent Saint-Martin, Junior Minister for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad, called for collective discipline within the government to prevent conflicting positions, expressing concern over Retailleau's involvement in policy-and-legislation outside his portfolio, such as his recent op-ed against renewable energies.
- The general news outlets have been closely following the political tensions within the government, as the Environment Minister, President Emmanuel Macron, and other ministers have reaffirmed their support for the renewable sector, countering Retailleau's advocacy for nuclear power over wind and solar energy.
