This is the kind of deliberation that rarely results in divisive positions. This Thursday, December 19, after 1h10 of rather courteous debates, the elected representatives of TPM gathered for the last metropolitan council of the year unanimously validated “the creation of an action plan relating to invasive plant species on natural sites in the Toulouse area”. But just before the vote, a little sentence caused quite a bit of emotion.
National Rally representative Amaury Navarranne, never shy of a good word during his public interventions, or even a provocation, this time pushed the decency barrier a little further. “You know our attachment to border regulation”he said. “We are therefore obviously in favor of this action plan against invasive alien species, including plants.”
“Scandalous”, “Slip”… The strong words of Cécile Muschotti
If the vast majority of the assembly absolutely did not flinch at this comparison with racist overtones, opposition councilor Cécile Muschotti immediately asked to speak. “I want us to do some humor”conceded the former En Marche MP. “On the other hand, comparing human beings to invasive exotic plants is truly scandalous in a Republican enclosure.”
Faced with the annoyed sighs of the far-right politician, Cécile Muschotti said it again. “Personally and as an elected official, I strongly condemn these comments” she fumed. “ And we must remember, at each slip, the fundamentals and values of our Republic. They must guide our collective actions, here and elsewhere.”
The president of the TPM metropolis Jean-Pierre-Giran, who appeared taken aback by so much anger, closed the sequence in a surprising way. “You may be right in your point of view.”he said to Cécile Muschotti. “But collective moral lessons are not an absolute necessity, wherever they come from…” On the sidelines of the session, Amaury Navarranne made a point of emphasizing that this was a simple joke.
