Prime Minister Jean Castex planted a tree on Monday January 4 in the gardens of the Hotel Matignon, six months and one day after taking office, faithful to the tradition initiated by Raymond Barre in 1978, noted a journalist from the AFP.
The head of government chose an ash tree, "a wood which holds well to fire, which is very resistant, solid, which is not damaged", underlined the Prime Minister, noting that it was "known in the Pyrenees- Orientales ”, where he was elected.
"Animals, especially cows and horses, adore the leaves of the ash tree: it is a nourishing tree", he also argued, in the presence of the gardeners of the Matignon park.
Asked about the political significance of such a choice, the Prime Minister explained that "indeed, it is better to be resistant", while his government is facing an unprecedented health crisis.
Matignon also indicated that the ash "is also a tree of combat: in The Iliad, Achilles' javelin was made of ash wood".
Have a good orientation
The largest non-public garden in Paris, the Matignon garden is one of the most famous in the capital, especially for its skilfully ordered perspective.
Since Raymond Barre's sugar maple, it is the 17th tree planted by as many prime ministers.
Jacques Chirac, Raymond Barre's predecessor, had not planted a tree during his second lease at Matignon (1986-1988).
Symbol of longevity, the oak was the most chosen, with four trees (Mauroy, Fabius, Villepin, Valls), ahead of the magnolia (Ayrault and Cazeneuve).
Edouard Philippe, for his part, had chosen an apple tree.
Jean Castex's tree is located in the immediate vicinity of the silver maple planted by Edouard Balladur in 1993, "but this is a choice made by gardeners for orientation reasons," said those around him.