GM crops law brings government splits to light

Secretary of State for Ecology, Madame Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, gave a public apology to two ministerial colleagues just ten minutes after being asked to do so by the Prime Minister, Monsieur Fillon, or “take the consequences”. In an article published in Le Monde newspaper on Wednesday the 9th april she had accused colleagues Jean-Francois Copé and Jean-Louis Borloo of participating in a competition of cowardice and “inelegance” on the topic of the Law on genetically modified organisms (OGM in french) currently before the parliament.

M. Copé, parliamentary leader of the majority UMP party, had earlier accused Mme. Kosciusko-Morizet of being the “source of the problems” the majority is facing in the form of ammendments from the opposition. He implied Mme. Kosciusko-Morizet in reality approves of these ammendments.

M. Jean-Louis Borloo was President Sarkozy’s choice to head a super ministry bringing together responsabilities for the environment, energy, transport, sustainable development, and urban / regional planning amongst others. Though logical in terms of “sustainability” this combination has not been without its critics.

Mme. Kosciusko-Morizet has been seen as an exceptionally capable young rising star of the present administration, combining tact and organisational competence with a thorough understanding of the issues involved and an ability to talk to environmental associations in their own terms. This last point has recently lead to some UMP members suggesting she is too sympathetic to anti-GM voices. Similarly some UMP members imply that others of their group are too sympathetic to the GM seeds lobby.

The whole progress of the current law through parliament is bringing out these tensions prompting the harsh demand from M. Fillon in order to avoid embarrassing splits. Mme. Kosciusko-Morizet quickly complied but the turn around has been seen by some as a public humiliation.