François Bayrou defends his presence on the municipal council during the crisis in Mayotte, facing accusations from Mathilde Panot

For his first speech to deputies this Tuesday at the National Assembly, François Bayrou defended his presence at the Pau municipal council the day before, despite criticism from all political sides in the midst of the crisis in Mayotte.

“Citizenship is not divided and I have exercised my responsibility as a citizen”assured François Bayrou, recalling that he had attended the crisis meeting on the situation in Mayotte by videoconference, while being in Pau.

This decision not to travel to the archipelago following the deadly passage of Cyclone Chido is controversial. “You should not have gone to Pau to retain a mandate, but to the crisis meeting at the Élysée”launched Mathilde Panot, head of the France Insoumise deputies in the Hemicycle.

“Pau is in France”defended the Prime Minister. “I chaired the municipal council of my town from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., I consider that in doing so I was also in my place as a citizen…”added François Bayrou.

“If I had gone to the 7th arrondissement or Neuilly, you would have found it very good”

“I was at the crisis meeting, I participated from the first to the last minute, but only by video, like the Minister of the Interior from Reunion Island”François Bayrou justified himself.

“If I had gone to the municipal council last night, in all the communes of France to vote on the budget, or in a town hall in the 7th arrondissement or in Neuilly, you would have found it very good, madam”continued the Prime Minister (…) There is a break, perhaps you do not feel it, between the life of the provinces and the circle of powers in Paris.»

Faced with this controversy, the new Prime Minister François Bayrou also explained himself to the deputies. He wanted to recall that “ It is not customary for the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic to leave the national territory at the same time.. «It’s France !”, replied several deputies.