"12 billion for thermal renovation": environmental activists put pressure on the Assembly

But Elisabeth Borne put an end to their hopes by committing at the end of the day on 49.3 to have the entire draft 2023 state budget adopted at first reading without a vote. She explained that she would not take up the EELV and PS amendments on the subject: "We cannot increase thermal renovation work by seven overnight," she said.

Dressed in orange vests and surrounded by a large police force, the activists of the "Last renovation" collective sat down on boulevard Saint-Germain in front of the Palais Bourbon at midday demanding that these amendments be maintained.

Some even stuck their hands on the bitumen with glue on the quai de la Seine, noted an AFP journalist.

Nine people, according to the prefecture, were arrested around 15:00 p.m. after more than two and a half hours of blockage.

They were placed in police custody for "obstructing traffic or organizing an undeclared demonstration", said the Paris prosecutor's office.

"In the media you have heard about + ecoterrorism + (but) young people are anxious, angry for the generations to come. We have the power to change things", urged one of the speakers.

Several deputies joined the procession, in particular the EELV Sandrine Rousseau, Julien Bayou and the president of the ecological group in the Assembly Cyrielle Chatelain, as well as LFIs like Alma Dufour, Charlotte Leduc and Maxime Laisney.

Former N.1 of EELV, Julien Bayou is "rejoiced when there is like that a continuum between mobilization in the field, non-violent civil disobedience and action in institutions. That's ecology" .

His colleague Eva Sas, at the origin of one of the amendments, believes that these credits represent "a need for all French people to be accompanied for global renovations of their homes with a remainder at zero charge".

"Going into police custody or risking a trial, for me, is nothing compared to what awaits us" because of global warming, underlined to AFP Rachel, a 20-year-old activist already arrested during a previous action.

The "Last renovation" collective, which distinguished itself this summer by interrupting stages of the Tour de France and a match at Roland Garros, has multiplied "punch" actions in recent days: blocking of the A6a motorway and disruption from a performance at the Paris Opera on Friday, lowering the French flag at the Pantheon on Monday, a failed attempt on Tuesday to cling to Matignon...