Le Figaro Nantes
The European campaign takes an unexpected detour through the locker room.
The Agricultural Show is in full swing and offers elected officials of all kinds and producers of all sizes the opportunity to present themselves in the colors of their community or company.
However, the Pays de la Loire delegation is unlikely to appear wrapped up in the region's new vests any time soon.
Since February 27, these short clothes have been at the center of a controversy launched by the left-wing opposition of the regional council.
They took great pleasure in seeing that the vests flocked with the community's logo were hardly representative of the regional industry or the "made in France" approach praised by the local executive.
They came from a factory based in Bangladesh.
The observation initially provoked dismayed hilarity from the elected representatives of the left-wing opposition group, Printemps des Pays de la Loire.
A regional advisor shares photos of her discovery on the group's WhatsApp loop, noting the exotic mention written on the vest label.
Then, after reflection, Christophe Clergeau decided not to let such a great opportunity slip away.
A few months before the European elections, the local elected official - who is also an MEP - finds in the Bangladeshi affair something to give voters a little food for thought.
He pulls out a tweet.
And wrap it all up with the hashtag:
“doudounesgate”
.
A “non-deal”
In a press release published immediately, Christophe Clergeau regrets
“the gap between speeches or tweets in 240 characters on reindustrialization”
.
Then takes a shot at the regional president, Christelle Morançais, who on the one hand claims to want to reconnect with
“the ambition that made France what it is”,
and who, however, on the other hand ,
“has its down jackets made in Bangladesh”
.
The MEP finally takes the opportunity to recall the work in Brussels on the duty of vigilance of companies, concerning their social and environmental impacts - little or poorly controlled on the other side of the world.
The subject of down jackets
“made in Bangladesh”
hardly moves the office of the regional presidency, where there is talk of a
“non-business”.
Asked by
Le Figaro,
the firm claims to be bound hand and foot by
“the reality of public markets”
and, in this case, by the suppliers of the incumbent service provider.
During the discussions which took place with the region in September 2022, it indicated that it was not able to offer a French or European producer for this product, despite requests from the community.
“We favor production made in France whenever possible,”
adds the presidency, in a brief press release sent to the press.
“Doudounesgate” does not make the regional council roll their eyes any less.
“It’s controversy for the sake of controversy
,” whispers someone close to Christelle Morançais.
This concerns the products derived from many communities.
And this is not new, what's more.
Go find out everything that Christophe Clergeau validated when he was vice-president of the region
(between 2009 and 2015, under the presidency of Jacques Auxiette, Editor's note).
»
Not enough to turn heads at the regional council.