The arrival of Greta Thunberg in the National Assembly electrifies the political class

• Tweeter

• republish

Swedish climate watchmaker Greta Thunberg received the 2019 Freedom Award in Caen in the presence of veterans of the Normandy Landings of 1944, July 21, 2019. JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER / AFP

Greta Thunberg received Sunday, February 21 Liberty Award 2019 in Caen in northwestern France. It will be tomorrow in the National Assembly for a cross-party meeting, open to all members. And the least we can say is that the arrival of the 16-year-old Swedish girl, spokesperson for the fight against climate change, does not leave the political class indifferent.

Invited by the group of 162 French parliamentarians "Accelerate", Greta Thunberg is expected to debate part of the afternoon of Tuesday, July 22 of the urgency of climate change. At his side, no less than 150 parliamentarians from all walks of life, the vice-president of the Giec , Valérie Masson-Delmotte or 40 young French and French.

The young activist will not speak in the hemicycle, but in a room located in the basement of the Assembly. She will then meet with several young people before attending, later in the day, in the forum, questions to the government, without taking part.

But this visit to the National Assembly does not seem to be unanimous among parliamentarians. Some even called for boycotting the event, because of Greta Thunberg's over-scary and alarming speeches. " To fight against global warming, we do not need apocalyptic gurus, but scientific progress, " tweeted Republican MP Guillaume Larrivé.

" We exploit this child by giving ourselves a good conscience on these issues. It is not a girl who has stopped school who can come to give lessons to adults. I think that makes the message less credible. I would prefer to talk with scientists, with people who have solutions, "said Valerie Boyer, MP for Bouches-du-Rhone, Deputy Secretary General of Les Républicains.

On her Twitter account, MP Valérie Boyer protests on the fact that the " young out-of-school activist " is invited to the National Assembly for a symposium on ecology the same day the government presents the ratification bill to vote. of the Ceta Free Trade Agreement between the EU and Canada.

Tomorrow, #GrataThunberg, the young out-of-school activist, will be at the Assembly for a symposium on ecology. The same day the #government wants us to vote #CETA! Perfect illustration of #time and communication in all directions. Where is the consistency ? https://t.co/6XJ2s6yXip

For Guillaume Larrivé, candidate for the presidency of the Republicans, Greta Thunberg is an " apocalyptic guru ". Julien Aubert, who is also a candidate, even calls him a " Nobel Prize for fear ".

For his part, the close deputy environmentalists Matthew Orphelin, the origin of the arrival of Greta Thunberg exasperated that his visit could be controversial. " They would have done better to read the program, " he says. The green trend MP explains that Greta Thunberg will not speak alone. At his side, 4 young Frenchmen committed to the environment and the vice-president of the Giec, group of experts on the climate. He denounces a misplaced controversy and a political calculation: " That's all, except the caricature presentation given by these few right-wing deputies, who I believe, are campaigning. But really, I find it really inappropriate, so far from the stakes! The climate deserves better than that . "

Dear colleagues @GLarrive and @JLTHIERIOT, no unnecessary controversy. In addition to @GretaThunberg, 4 young French @ Youth4Climatefr and @valmasdel from the IPCC will also be speaking. Listen to youth and scientists. You are welcome on Tuesday. #climat #directAN @AssemblyNat https://t.co/WlalSB5nC2

Members of the group The Republicans will still be present and for the most hostile, Matthew Orphelin maintains the invitation: " They will be welcome, he said , the night brings advice ."

The majority appears divided on the subject. Gabriel Attal, Secretary of State for the Minister of National Education and Youth, is on Twitter against critics about Greta Thunberg's visit to the National Assembly.

The Assembly is a place of debate. If @GretaThunberg was 30 years older, no one would question its legitimacy to intervene. It is her youth that makes some people forget that she initiated a historical movement. Sad message for young people engaged.

" To strike the school, what a sad symbol, " according to LaREM deputy of Paris Sylvain Maillard who said " extremely uncomfortable with the iconic construction against a scientific reflection ."

To go on strike at school, what a sad symbol.

I am extremely uncomfortable with the iconic construction against scientific thinking.

These are the learning and working values ​​that I want to convey to my children. # GretaThunberg https://t.co/bNJOd7Km2B

" I will not be forced to go to kneel, to go to applaud the Justin Bieber of the ecology, a kind of media creature that will speak banalities ", criticized Monday the deputy RN Sebastien Chenu on BFMTV, while specifying not not be climate-skeptical .

Also to listen: Laurent Jacobelli, spokesman for the National Rally, guest of RFI is very critical on the invitation of Greta Thunberg by the French parliamentarians.

The first secretary of the Socialist Party Olivier Faure and the president of Génération Ecologie Delphine Batho criticized this Monday the attitude of deputies LR and RN opposed to the coming of the Swedish muse.