Asked after the Council of Ministers, Olivier Véran acknowledged the fault and encouraged journalists and citizens to continue to note the misconduct of ministries. “That’s what will accelerate our behavioral changes,” he promises.
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After the multiple calls for energy sobriety sent by the government since mid-July, here is an image that contrasts with the speeches: the empty cars of the ministers lined up in the courtyard of the Elysée, engines and air conditioning on.
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And for good reason: they were then still in the middle of the Council of Ministers, the last before the holidays, as noted on the spot by the journalist from franceinfo, Benjamin Mathieu.
A message of sobriety last week. In the courtyard of the Elysée, while waiting for the exit of the Council of Ministers, the ministers’ cars are nevertheless closed doors and air conditioning on while waiting for their occupants. pic.twitter.com/II6lfOU7cM
— Benjamin Mathieu (@BenjMathieu) July 29, 2022
For a fortnight, an instruction had however been given to the ministries not to turn the engines off, confirms a source close to the executive at franceinfo. Before the Prime Minister herself, in a circular, asks ministries and administrations to “exemplify” in terms of energy sobriety on Monday July 26 at the very beginning of the week.
Five days later, the image is therefore at least unwelcome, at worst deplorable for the government. Questioned during the press conference, the government spokesman, Olivier Véran, admitted: “You’re right, you have to be careful with everything.”
“Every time we don’t [attention], you won’t miss us. Well you know what? So much the better because that’s what will accelerate our behavioral changes.”
Olivier Veranat a press conference