Hunting: what are the presidential candidates proposing?

Manon Fossat with AFP 12:30 p.m., March 22, 2022

A hunting accident resulting in the death of a 25-year-old hiker on February 19, after being shot by a stray bullet, has revived the debate on this practice.

The candidates for the presidential election have taken up the issue: some have stepped up to demand new regulations while others have renewed their support for hunters in France.

The various candidates are invited to speak on the issue this Tuesday at the National Congress of the National Federation of Hunters.

On the occasion of the release of our presidential playlists (the one on hunting can be found by clicking here or at the bottom of this article), Europe 1 returns to their proposals.

Anne Hidalgo

The PS candidate did not speak directly on the subject but argued through her spokesperson Carole Delga her refusal to align herself with Yannick Jadot's position.

"What we embody with Anne Hidalgo is the ecology of doing [...] and not that of diktat or prohibition [...] When I hear that (Yannick Jadot) wants to ban hunting during weekends and holidays, we do not agree", said on France bleu the president of the Occitanie region.

Emmanuel Macron

Emmanuel Macron, who has not expressed himself clearly on the subject either, lets his five-year term speak for him and describes hunting as a "way of life".

The results of the last five years are indeed very favorable to hunters.

The latter notably opened up the possibility of hunting more species and also lowered the price of the hunting permit, bringing it down from 400 euros to 200 euros.

Eric Zemmour

For the candidate of Reconquest!, hunting is a "pillar" of the Nation and he refuses that "anyone prohibits hunting", like fishing.

"You have ancestral techniques that must be preserved and transmitted. The real ecologists are you, not the city dwellers who want deer like in Bambi", launched Éric Zemmour during the "grand oral" before the Movement of the rurality.

The former journalist also wants the creation of a Ministry of Agriculture, including hunting, fishing and forestry.

Fabien Roussel

For his part, the communist Fabien Roussel stands out on the left and defends traditional hunts.

They are "exercised by few people and are not transmitted", explained the PCF candidate.

"There is a sense of history that little by little, these practices will disappear naturally, and therefore we have to let life happen".

He explained that he did not share the "anti-hunting" current of part of the left, highlighting on Franceinfo the fact that hunters as well as the Hunting Federation "participate a lot in the maintenance, the preservation of pastures with Farmers."

John Lassalle

The candidate of the Résistons party claims a deep attachment to hunting and defends this practice.

He considers it to be a "part of the national heritage".

"When you no longer put your steps on a path, on a path, you don't have the same vibrations, you have gone from sensitivity to sentimentality", he explained to the site chassons.com to justify the misunderstanding and opposition to this practice by certain politicians. 

Jean-Luc Melenchon

On the question of hunting, the candidate of the Insoumis joins Yannick Jadot on the prohibition of this practice on weekends and during school holidays.

“Hunting must not be possible on weekends and during school holidays, because that is where the risk would be greatest”, judged Jean-Luc Mélenchon on France 3. He also wants to ban hunting. hunting with hounds, digging up or even cockfighting and shows including wild animals.

Listen to all our other presidential playlists on Deezer or by clicking on the following links:

- How to reform inheritance tax?

- How to save the health system?

- Are there too many civil servants in France?

- Should wages be increased?

- How to fight against overpriced housing?

- How to reform the school?

- Can we defend ourselves without NATO?

- Should we rethink immigration policy?

- Should nuclear power be revived?

Marine Le Pen

For Marine Le Pen, the tone is the same as for Valérie Pécresse.

"I consider that hunting is an ancestral tradition and that it must be maintained", she declared in particular.

“We have to find a way so that walkers and hunters can safely enjoy our area which is extraordinary,” said Marine Le Pen on France Inter.

"If it's not hunters - who regulate wildlife - it will be officials with guns who will."

Valerie Pécresse

For candidate LR in the presidential election, hunting is a tradition in France.

"We do not hinder fishing and hunting, which are freedoms resulting from the Revolution", she underlined during a meeting with the Mouvement de la ruralité, the former party Hunting, fishing, nature and traditions.

"To ban hunting on weekends would be to ban hunting altogether. But on the other hand, we can perfectly organize cohabitation in the most urban areas between hunters and walkers, that's what we do in my region", declared Valérie Pécresse on France Inter.

She advocates hunting-free days in nature reserves. 

Yannick Jadot

The EELV candidate Yannick Jadot, who revealed that he was not invited to this congress, is the one who goes the furthest.

He proposes that hunting accidents be more repressed and that the hunting license be renewed every five years.

He also wants to put an end to bullying and enclosure hunting.

But its most emblematic measure on this issue is the ban on hunting on weekends as well as during school holidays. 

The environmental candidate also said he wanted to completely ban hunting with hounds, like that of endangered species.

He also wishes, if he is elected president, the creation of a

Ministry of Animal Welfare and "double the price - of the hunting license - since it has been halved by the government".

>> To get around the question, you can also listen to our Playlist here: