The appointment of a renowned wine-industry lobbyist to President Macron’s staff has led to a dispute that is pitting winemakers against health experts.
The wine industry sees Audrey Bourolleau, 37, as their champion who will defend the core values of French civilisation from within the apparatus of government.
Doctors view her as a threat to public safety and think that her beliefs will lead to France falling into an alcoholic stupor.
Ms Bourolleau, who has been appointed as the president’s agricultural adviser, earned her reputation as the head of the Vin et Société lobby group, where she fought against laws that restrict advertising for alcohol and persuaded MPs to vote in legislation that authorised the promotion of wine tourism.
La Revue du vin de France, the wine industry’s bible, named her woman of the year in 2014 and has now welcomed her appointment to Mr Macron’s team. However, 11 associations and health experts involved in the struggle against alcohol addiction have published a statement expressing their concern, saying: “The risk is that agricultural and wine policy will be implemented to the detriment of an efficient fight against the harmful consumption of alcohol.”
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France exported wine and spirits worth €11.6 billion last year, making it the country’s second-most lucrative product, after aircraft.
Amine Benyamina, chairman of the French Federation for the Study of Addiction, said that alcohol was responsible for 50,000 deaths a year in France, and that Ms Bourolleau’s role at the Élysée would mean that winemakers’ interests shaped agricultural policy.
“I trust Emmanuel Macron but it is my duty to tell him to be careful. We know Audrey Bourolleau and we will be vigilant to ensure that her advice does not run counter to the general interest.”
An Élysée spokesman dismissed the criticism, saying that her role covered agricultural affairs and would not cover public health policy.