French Senate Passes Agricultural Bill Easing Water Storage and Livestock Expansion After Environment Minister Apologizes for Outburst

French Environment Minister Monique Barbut lost her temper in the Senate chamber on July 2, 2026, after being accused of lying, Le Monde reported. She later issued a public apology. Senators were debating an agricultural bill that would make it easier to build water storage facilities for irrigation and expand livestock farms.

Barbut, who previously served as president of the French chapter of the World Wildlife Fund, said the measure would condemn half of all wetlands while officials discussed adapting to climate change. A photograph taken at the Assemblée Nationale on June 17 showed Barbut during earlier stages of the debate.

Le Monde reported that the right-wing and centrist majority had removed major environmental provisions from the bill amendment by amendment.

Senator Ronan Dantec of the Greens stated that any environment minister would feel powerless when faced with the right's offensive. Barbut has said the changes undermine water policy at a time of climate crisis.