Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale
National
RFI

French environment minister quits as new law opens door to contested pesticides

Monique Barbut, formerly with the UN environment programme, was appointed environment minister in October 2025, but her concern for nature was at odds with the government's farming bill.
Monique Barbut, formerly with the UN environment programme, was appointed environment minister in October 2025, but her concern for nature was at odds with the government's farming bill. AP - Michel Euler

Environment Minister ⁠Monique Barbut has stepped ​down in protest after French lawmakers approved ​the controversial new agriculture bill allowing the temporary reintroduction of two pesticides accused of harming bees.

"I told the prime minister yesterday that ​the ‌conditions for me to stay in the ⁠government were no longer being met and I presented my resignation to ‌the president today as a result," Barbut wrote in ⁠a post published on Wednesday on LinkedIn.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.