The remarks shocked an already tense National Assembly. While Michel Barnier began his speech with a tribute to the former deputy for Ille-et-Vilaine René Couanau, a deputy said “we don’t care” to the Prime Minister. The MP in question, Élisa Martin of the LFI group, apologized and also justified not having addressed Michel Barnier.
This Tuesday, December 3, was the day for questions to the government by the deputies of the National Assembly. It is the turn of the communist André Chassaigne to ask his question and Michel Barnier to answer it. The Prime Minister then decides, before responding, to begin with a tribute to René Couanau, who died on November 30. The latter was mayor of Saint-Malo and former deputy of Ille-et-Vilaine.
Except that a third person intervenes and says “we don’t care”. A sentence which had once been attributed by rumors to Sophia Chikirou, but it is rather Élisa Martin, according to the report of the session published on the National Assembly website.
ud83dudd34 Call to order by Yaël Braun-Pivet during Michel Barnier's tribute to René Couanau
ud83dudde3ufe0f “We are talking about the memory of a man who has just died, Madam Deputy. It's scandalous.” pic.twitter.com/KTmPQUtQcV
— LCI (@LCI) https://twitter.com/LCI/status/1863957967961260339?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
“Out of respect, no controversy”
The sentence was immediately booed by the right-wing MPs, while the MP made apologetic signs towards the government. She was then called to order by President Yaël Braun-Pivet. “We are talking about the memory of a man who has just died, Madam Deputy. It’s scandalous”
Who can imagine being indifferent to the death of a human being? It was not Sophia Chikirou but me who spoke not to Mr. Barnier but to a colleague whom I thought was speaking to me, precisely to stay focused on the intervention. Out of respect, no controversy. https://t.co/YqPCrsJc6Z
— Élisa Martin (@ElisaMartinGre) https://twitter.com/ElisaMartinGre/status/1864034535102456136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Élisa Martin then posted a message of apology and explanation on X. “Who can imagine being indifferent to the death of a human being? It was not Sophia Chikirou but me who spoke not to Mr. Barnier but to a colleague whom I thought was speaking to me, precisely to stay focused on the intervention.” explains the one who is elected in the 3rd constituency of Isère. “Out of respect, no controversy” she concludes.
