Julien Denormandie, former Minister of Agriculture, returns with a book on the global issue of food

Julien Denormandie, who left political life in 2022, published with Erik Orsenna the book “Nourishing without devastating”. If Gabriel Attal was preferred for Matignon, the former Minister of Agriculture remains influential in Macronie.

After having been Minister of Agriculture and Food in the Castex government, Julien Denormandie left political life in May 2022. Today he returns with a book, Nourish without devastating, written with academician Erik Orsenna, on sale from Wednesday February 7. Feeding more and more human beings, without devastating the planet? The subject is blatantly topical, even if this book was obviously in preparation well before the farmers’ protests.

A regularly requested historical walker

As former Minister of Agriculture, Julien Denormandie was also contacted by Gabriel Attal during the crisis. The Prime Minister wanted his “lighting”explains a relative, they have “especially exchanged before the first burst of announcements”therefore before Gabriel Attal’s trip to Haute-Garonne on January 26.

Julien Denormandie is also regularly consulted by Emmanuel Macron. This is the historic walker. He was still considered for Matignon at the start of the year, as after the re-election of Emmanuel Macron in 2022. But it was Gabriel Attal who was chosen for the position. “Obviously, he was a little disappointed”, confides a friend of Julien Denormandie. Even though he works for the start-up Sweep, which advises companies on reducing CO2 emissions, Julien Denormandie still talks a lot about politics.

The possibility of a European candidacy

He was not chosen for Matignon, but his name is circulating for another mission: to head the Macronist list for the European elections on June 9. Emmanuel Macron would like to convince him. The majority praise Julien Denormandie’s qualities for this mission: “it is appreciated by farmers”, “loyal”, “worker”, “bright”and then “we’re sure he wouldn’t do anything stupid”, insists a parliamentarian. Some still point out his lack of notoriety, his little appetite for interviews, “leading a campaign is not in his DNA”said a minister.

But the fundamental question remains that of his more or less rooted desire to launch into this fight against Jordan Bardella. Many Macronists are pessimistic about the chances of “convince Denormandie”. “He almost became Prime Minister, the campaign will be difficult and becoming an MEP would involve going back and forth between Paris, Brussels and Strasbourg, not easy for his family life”, explains a relative of Julien Denormandie, who is the father of four children. Even if a framework emphasizes that “to really weigh it, he was always missing a mandate”.