Former French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe oversaw the closure of the Fessenheim nuclear power plant and the implementation of a speed limit [1].
These policy decisions are now being scrutinized as Philippe positions himself as an environmentalist. The debate centers on whether his past governance aligns with his current political identity, a tension that critics argue undermines his credibility.
Guillaume Roquette of Points de Vue, a publication of Le Figaro Magazine, highlighted these specific measures. Roquette said that the closure of the Fessenheim plant and the adoption of an 80 km/h [1] speed limit occurred during Philippe's tenure as Prime Minister.
According to the dossier, Philippe served as Prime Minister from May 2014 to May 2017. During this period, the government moved forward with the shutdown of the Fessenheim nuclear facility, a decision that sparked significant political and economic debate across France.
Roquette questioned the transition in Philippe's political persona. "La fermeture de Fessenheim, les 80km/h, c'était quand Édouard Philippe était Premier ministre. Il se dit aujourd'hui écologiste, mais ses positions précédentes n'étaient pas totalement convaincantes," Roquette said.
Translated, Roquette said that the Fessenheim closure and the 80 km/h limit happened while Philippe was Prime Minister, adding that while he now calls himself an ecologist, his previous positions were not fully convincing.
The speed limit of 80 km/h [1] was part of a broader effort to reduce road fatalities and carbon emissions, though it remained a point of contention for motorists. Similarly, the Fessenheim closure represented a pivot in France's energy strategy, moving away from older nuclear infrastructure.
“The closure of the Fessenheim nuclear plant and the adoption of an 80 km/h speed limit occurred while Édouard Philippe served as France’s Prime Minister.”
The scrutiny of Édouard Philippe's record suggests a growing political effort to challenge the authenticity of his environmental credentials. By linking his current 'ecologist' identity to the specific administrative actions of his premiership, critics are attempting to frame his evolution as political opportunism rather than a genuine shift in conviction.
