Criticized for using business jets, Ecological Transition Minister says he ‘takes responsibility’ for these flights

He defends his controversial trips. Ecological Transition Minister Christophe Bechoux “confirms and accepts responsibility” for the flights of his business jets, he told Franceinfo on Wednesday evening after being singled out by local Angevin newspaper La Topette.

“All these trips are related to work, and if tomorrow under the same circumstances I have to fly again in this context, I will do so,” the minister justified himself.

When “there is no commercial line or in the event of a disaster or event, I use DGAC (Directorate General of Civil Aviation, editor’s note) training aircraft,” confirmed Christophe Bechoux, mentioning several cases of “emergency situations.” such as the “fires in the Pyrenees” or even the “floods in Vesubie” which justified this mode of transport.

“I had no other options”

In its investigation, published on November 30, the Angevin newspaper counted six trips between July 31 and November 14, totaling “more than 12,000 km” and “23 tons of CO2,” according to La Topetta’s calculations.

“I have made between 100 and 130 trips since I became minister,” said the former mayor of Angers, who claimed to apply the “rules of citizens’ agreement” by taking the train when there is time. than three hours, the plane takes more than four hours.

However, the Minister of Ecological Transition admitted that he was on a plane between Metz and Paris, two cities separated by a TGV train by less than an hour and a half. “I had no choice to go to Metz other than to take the plane as I was leaving from Pas de Calais and when the plane then returned, instead of returning empty, it “brought back” instead of boarding “train”. ‘, he explained. “There was no better option” on each of these flights. “I can confirm this to you quite calmly,” repeated Christophe Bechu.

Air travel by government members is often highlighted. In 2022, Prime Minister Jean Castex caused controversy by traveling to the Eastern Pyrenees on the Falcon to vote in the first round of the presidential election. In 2015, Manuel Valls, then prime minister, traveled to Berlin to attend the Champions League final on board the same type of aircraft.