Presidential: around thirty NGOs ask candidates to commit to animals

Europe 1 with AFP 6:29 p.m., March 15, 2022

The Bardot Foundation, the SPA or CIWF: 29 NGOs have joined forces to bring the voice of animals by choosing 22 measures intended for candidates in the presidential election so that they commit to advancing the animal cause.

At 26 days from the first round, these proposals are carried by the "2022 Animal Engagement" campaign with six themes: animals and society, breeding, transport and slaughter, animal experimentation, captivity and entertainment, companion and leisure animals, wild animals and biodiversity. .

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86% of French people interested in the subject

An Ifop poll carried out in February at the request of the Bardot Foundation reveals that 86% of French people say they want candidates to make proposals to improve animal conditions, and 57 say that these proposals could influence their vote.

"The idea of ​​this campaign is to inform citizens of all of the candidates' commitments through a website www.engagement- Animaux.fr", explained Lorène Jacquet of the Bardot Foundation on Tuesday during a a videoconference.

Among the candidates who signed the charter, Jean-Luc Mélenchon (LFI) validated 98% of the measures, as did the ecologist Yannick Jadot, Nathalie Arthaud (LO) 85%, Philippe Poutou (NPA) 77%, Nicolas Dupont-Aignan (Debout la France) 67% and Marine Le Pen (RN) 58%.

Left-wing candidates "100% committed"

On the theme "Breeding, slaughter and transport", Agathe Gignoux of CIWF welcomed the fact that "left-wing candidates are committed to 100% of the measures" recalling that in France one billion animals are slaughtered each year.

She deplores, on the other hand, that on this subject Nicolas Dupont-Aignan and Marine Le Pen "commit much less", the latter "positions herself only on slaughter without stunning".

Lorène Jacquet regrets that Nicolas Dupont-Aignant and Marine Le Pen do not commit to the prohibition of bullfighting and cockfighting even if Marine Le Pen is for the prohibition of arenas for those under 16 years old.

She approves, however, that Jean-Luc Mélenchon commits for the first time for the prohibition of bullfighting.

The regret of not seeing Zemmour position itself

"During this five-year term, part of the left has clearly positioned itself in favor of the animal cause as a whole. This trend continues with the commitment of Jadot and Mélenchon. They have also taken the step of slaughtering without stunning", welcomes Melvine Josse of the association animal convergence policy (CAP).

He regrets, however, that Eric Zemmour (Reconquête!) "does not seek in any way to express himself on the animal condition and assumes an opposition to the animal condition on many subjects".

Finally, the outgoing President Emmanuel Macron has "clearly chosen his camp on hunting, very little acted on breeding".

According to Melvine Josse, the measures that are most likely to be supported by the candidates are "the institution of a ministry of independent authority and the companion animal part which is less divisive than hunting and breeding. ".