Gabriel Attal promises major water plan if elected amid France drought
Gabriel Attal has pledged to make water management a national priority, promising a major overhaul of France's approach to water resources if he is elected president.
In an interview with AFP, the former prime minister and leader of Renaissance outlined a proposed package that would combine measures to reduce waste, ease administrative restrictions and provide greater protection for households facing rising water-related costs.
A dedicated ministry for water
Attal said he would create a ministry specifically responsible for water management, placing the issue at the centre of government policy.
His proposals come as France faces repeated heatwaves and persistent drought conditions. Since the end of June, successive periods of extreme heat have intensified concerns over water availability in several regions.
For Attal, the situation demonstrates that managing water supplies has become a fundamental national challenge rather than a temporary environmental concern.
Fighting waste and easing bureaucracy
The Renaissance leader said his proposed strategy would include a broad campaign against water waste. He also wants to remove what he describes as unnecessary administrative obstacles that can delay projects designed to improve water management.
The objective would be to accelerate investment and infrastructure projects while encouraging more efficient use of available resources.
Attal also proposed a price shield to protect consumers from excessive increases in water-related costs, although he did not provide further details on how the mechanism would operate.
Turning water into a political priority
The announcement reflects an effort by Attal to position water policy as both an environmental and economic issue.
He rejected what he considers an approach based primarily on restrictions and reduced consumption, arguing instead that water should be treated as an instrument of economic progress while remaining central to ecological policy.
Attal is due to travel to the Pyrénées-Orientales on Monday, where he will meet winegrowers affected by water shortages.
His proposals come as the debate over drought adaptation, agricultural needs and access to water becomes increasingly prominent in French political life.
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