The proliferation of these pests has become a political issue, both for the executive and the oppositions.
“We are not in the middle of an Ebola epidemic. At some point, we have to stop!” The MoDem deputy Bruno Millienne is annoyed by the “hype” regarding bedbugs: “We have the impression that the whole of France is infested.” Other elected officials from the majority share his opinion. “I think we’re doing too much.” estimates a Renaissance parliamentarian, according to whom this subject, “very Parisian”, “does not exist” in his constituency.
However, the increase in reports of bedbugs in recent weeks, in transport, schools, hospitals, cinemas, but also in individuals, is confirmed by figures from the Disinfection, Disinfestation and Pest Control Union Chamber. Interventions by professionals thus increased by 65% this summer compared to the same period in 2022.
>> TRUE OR FALSE. Is the government inactive in the face of the scourge of bedbugs?
Faced with the growing concern of the French, and while 55% of them ask “a national plan against bedbugs” according to a YouGov survey for HuffPost, an interministerial meeting devoted to this issue is due to take place on Friday October 6. It should lead to “decisions and directions”according to government spokesperson Olivier Véran. “It’s pure communication, it’s a way of saying that we’re taking care of it”, assures communicator Philippe Moreau-Chevrolet. For him, the international coverage of this subject forced the executive to react: “There is a huge stake with the 2024 Olympics, it is very embarrassing for the government.”
“There is a risk of psychosis”
On the opposition side, La France insoumise has made this subject one of its struggles for several years. Following recent reports, Mathilde Panot, LFI leader in the National Assembly, stepped up to the plate in the media and on social networks. Thus, on Sud Radio, on September 29, she asked that bedbugs be recognized as “a public health problem.” “I made a first emergency plan in 2019 by asking the government to act in the face of something (…) which was already a scourge at the time, but which has increased further,” she curses. “LFI has leverage to attack the government on the subject of the moment, which is not ideological,” analyzes Philippe Moreau-Chevrolet.
“The ‘rebellious’ are surfing on something simple. Normally, they are not the champions of health, but here, they have a file that they can take head-on and on which the executive is taken into account default.”
Philippe Moreau-Chevrolet, communicatorat franceinfo
Also on September 29, Bruno Studer, Renaissance MP who launched a working group on bedbugs in 2019, admitted in an interview with Figaro that “the government’s responses were not enough concrete”. “We are reaching a situation where bedbugs are becoming a structuring element of public debate. Government sensors are flawed, unable to detect weak signalsdeciphers Philippe Moreau-Chevrolet. No lessons have been learned from Covid-19 on the health front and now bedbugs are defying the government!”
In Elisabeth Borne’s team, only Clément Beaune, Minister of Transport, initially spoke after images of bedbugs in the train or the metro were broadcast on the networks. He announced on September 29 on X (ex-Twitter) a meeting with transport operators “to reassure and protect”. “He immediately understood that on such a subject, as distressing for people, there is a need for a very rapid and powerful political and state response”, says an executive advisor. Other ministers expressed concern about the lack of reaction at the highest level. “I am campaigning for action on bedbugs! There is a risk of psychosis, especially since we have no measuring tools”explained one of them on Monday to France Télévisions.
Renaissance will present a bill
On France Inter, Tuesday, the Minister of Health, Aurélien Rousseau, adopted a reassuring speech. Considering that there is not “no reason for general panic”he assured that France was not “not invaded” by these pests.
A few hours later, Sylvain Maillard, the president of the Renaissance group, announced at a press conference at the Palais-Bourbon thata bill to fight against bedbugs would be examined on December 4. “Syears action [du gouvernement], it was important to show that we are on the ball and that, above all, we have been working seriously on the subject since 2019″underlines a source from the parliamentary group.
Asked about the timing of this announcement, the deputies denied reacting under media pressure. “It’s a really big subject, it’s normal for MPs to take up it. At the same time, it is absolutely not new.replies parliamentarian Violette Spillebout. “We’ve been talking about it among ourselves for a while so we can’t really say that we were forced to react”agrees Sacha Houlié, Renaissance president of the law commission.
However, some, under cover of anonymity, are not fooled. “Sylvain Maillard simply took over projects from two colleagues and took the opportunity to tackle the subject”, says a parliamentarian. In response to the Renaissance press conference, LFI attacked the government a few minutes later in front of journalists and distributed a proposed resolution, while the PS also announced a proposed law.
A hemicycle that catches fire
But it was during questions to the government on Tuesday afternoon that the tension was particularly evident, with the majority and opposition passing the buck. “We wasted six years!” “You laughed in my face, you didn’t do anything”, launched Mathilde Panot, showing a vial containing dead bedbugs. Addressing Elisabeth Borne, the parliamentarian once again called for a national prevention plan and the creation of a “public disinfestation service”.
On the benches of the majority, these attacks provoked a reaction. “To say that we have done nothing is a lie. Yes, it is increasing, but we will treat things calmly and with a minimum of seriousness”confides Bruno Millienne. With a black look, the Prime Minister replied to Mathilde Panot, judging that “sOn this subject, there should be no division”while denouncing the“excess” of the LFI MP.
“Bed bugs are typically the kind of contropours into public space which starts very quickly. Then we discover a problem that has actually been there for a very long time.”analyzes political scientist Bruno Cautres. “It’s always the same media sequence: reactions lead to other reactions, and the executive is summoned to provide answers.”