After François Mitterrand at the Épinay congress in 1971, Sébastien Lecornu also spoke about the “rupture” on September 10, 2025, on the steps of Matignon. Today, it is President Macron’s turn to announce a nuclear one, opening European participation for the first time in deterrent exercises. But the rupture invoked by our Prime Minister was not one. Getting rid of Article 49.3 or ignoring an article of the Constitution is not a rupture: it’s a mistake. There is nothing wrong with holding the government accountable. However, in many areas – from hospitals to prisons, from water quality to public finances – the current situation calls for real changes in direction.
For example, it is illusory to hope for sound public finances if we ignore that the primary cost to society is illness, at the same level as pensions. The work stoppages, benefits, and associated economic costs alone amount to around 130 billion euros per year, and nearly 400 billion if all health-related expenses are included. This phenomenon is less due to the aging population than to the lack of health education and the omnipresence of pollution. The necessary ruptures are numerous. Here are a few of them.
Getting out of inflammatory eating
Citizens remain free to eat what they want, but should legislators authorize the sale of clearly harmful products without clearly indicating their effects or without limiting consumption through taxation? Doctors now distinguish between inflammatory foods – alcohol, deli meats, ultra-processed products, sugary drinks, refined flours, frying, or excess red meat – and protective foods rich in fibers, antioxidants, omega-3s, and polyphenols. The former accelerates aging and chronic diseases, while the latter helps prevent them. A simple strategy is to drastically reduce inflammatory products in your diet.
Getting out of dream-breaking politics
French electoral history is marked by enthusiasms followed by disillusionments. Millions of French people celebrated François Mitterrand’s victory in 1981, convinced that politics would “change life.” A few years later, many were already disappointed. This cycle of hope followed by disillusion regularly repeats itself.
Getting out of omnipresent synthetic chemistry
Synthetic chemistry has brought undeniable progress, but it has also spread massively in the air, water, soil, cosmetics, or food, often before its long-term effects have been truly evaluated.
Some chronic pathologies, cancers, or endocrine disruptions are questioning this headlong rush today. The rupture would consist of reversing the logic: proving the safety before the massive diffusion of molecules and further developing green chemistry and bio-based materials.
Getting out of wild economic competition
For decades, nations have been engaged in a perpetual competition that pushes for ever faster and cheaper production, often to the detriment of the environment, working conditions, and quality. The rupture consists of organizing a more balanced economic cooperation, based on sustainability and social responsibility. When one realizes that priorities are food and energy autonomy, many unnecessary international exchanges could be avoided.
Getting out of consumerism
Our societies have made the accumulation of goods an ideal of success. However, producing and consuming more has not made individuals happier. The rupture consists of prioritizing quality of life: consuming less but better, repairing, sharing, and passing on.
Getting out of the conventional
In many areas – agriculture, medicine, work organization, or urban planning – dominant practices are based on old habits. Prevention in health, for example, is based on nutrition, physical activity, social ties, and reducing pollution. Encouraging experimentation, innovation, and sometimes the rediscovery of ancient practices represents a necessary rupture.
Getting out of raw material dependence
Our economies heavily depend on resources located abroad: oil, gas, copper, uranium, silicon, or rare earths. This dependence creates a major strategic fragility. The rupture involves frugality, massive recycling, and reducing our material consumption.
Getting out of demagogy
Politics often suffers from unrealistic promises intended to seduce voters. Telling the truth, even when it is difficult, is instead a mark of respect for citizens.
Getting out of insufficiently adapted education
Education remains the key to many challenges: health, critical thinking, civics, or understanding environmental challenges. Instead of focusing solely on memorization, schools should develop more critical thinking, health education, and understanding of the contemporary world.
Getting out of the war against nature
For two centuries, humanity has often acted as if nature were an adversary to be dominated. Deforestation, soil artificialization, and the disappearance of species, however, weaken the balances on which our survival depends. The rupture consists of considering nature as an essential partner.
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Jean-Marc Governatori is co-president of the Ecological Center Party and a municipal councilor in Nice. He joined Éric Ciotti’s list for the municipal elections.
