The newly appointed Prime Minister Michel Barnier is facing criticism from the media and the political opposition for his attitude towards homosexuals, according to France 24.
On Thursday, President Emmanuel Macron appointed the 73-year-old Barnier to replace Gabriel Attal, France’s first openly gay Prime Minister. However, French media and the political opposition have begun to voice criticism, as the new Prime Minister has previously expressed opposition to homosexuals. In 1981, Barnier joined more than 150 conservatives in the National Assembly to vote against the law decriminalising young homosexuals.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the far-left, highlighted the new Prime Minister’s past position on gay rights, said:
What is the meaning of such a message?
The archives of the National Assembly show that Barnier did not speak out during the debates. However, another opponent who did speak, Jean Foyer, warned that the change could put teenagers at risk from adult men and alter public opinion on homosexuality.
In April 1980, Barnier also voted against a step forward in protecting gay rights after lawmakers advocated for the repeal of laws targeting homosexuals, according to the archives. The amendment provided for imprisonment of six months to three years and fines. At that time, the bill was passed by 278 votes to 202.
According to Régis Schlagdenhauffen, a researcher at the Paris School of Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences, around 10,000 people have faced conviction over four decades with his help. The key test, he said, will be whether the Prime Minister will support the bill introduced in 2022, which aims to compensate individuals punished for homosexuality from 1942 to 1982 and to recognise the persecution they endured.
