Associations are concerned about the lack of a position dedicated to disability, the Minister of Solidarity tries to reassure

The associations deplore the loss of a direct contact and fear being made invisible. The new Minister of Solidarity and Autonomy, Paul Christophe, assures that he has “always been committed to defending the fundamental rights of people with disabilities”.

A sign of political change? Prime Minister Michel Barnier presented his new government on Saturday, September 21, which includes no fewer than 39 ministers, deputy ministers and secretaries of state. But some titles seem to be missing from the previous team, arousing the distrust of associations and stakeholders in one subject in particular: disability.

“No, you are not dreaming. There is no minister, no deputy minister, and not even a secretary of state in charge of disability.” within the Barnier government, Florian Deygas, former vice-president of the National Consultative Council for Disabled People, expressed his alarm on Saturday on the X network. “Being disabled is already a daily struggle, and now the State chooses to make us invisible”the man suffering from multiple sclerosis is indignant.

“So 12 million people do not deserve a ministry”protests the Disability Collective on X. “Emmanuel Macron welcomed the momentum created by the Paralympic Games (…) It was quickly buried”castigates the group of national associations of disabled people and their families.

Faced with growing concerns, Michel Barnier’s entourage assured franceinfo that the subject of disability “is very close to the Prime Minister’s heart”and that it is included in the prerogatives of Paul Christophe, the new Minister of Solidarity, Autonomy and Equality between Women and Men. The latter tried to reassure the actors of the world of disability on his convictions, in a message published on X. Listing his experiences on the subject, Paul Christophe (Horizons) claims to have “always been committed to defending the fundamental rights of people with disabilities and a more inclusive society. That’s not going to change tomorrow!”

A text which was not enough to reassure the groups concerned. “How can we imagine that Paul Christophe, without a dedicated Secretary of State, will be able to follow all the files of this titanic ministry?”worries the Collectif Handicaps sur X. “The expression ‘very dear to my heart’ is worse than anything and signals a high-class burial of Emmanuel Macron’s so-called priority”the group judges.

“The government ‘dilutes’ us with autonomy, often oriented towards the elderly and dependent”alarms Florian Deygas on X. “We are losing a privileged and dedicated interlocutor, with whom we can debate and dialogue.”