French MP refuses to wear pink ribbon - for reasons related to Israel

The head of the far-left faction in the French parliament, Mathilde Panot, is refusing to wear the pink ribbon to raise awareness for breast cancer, claiming that Israeli chemical companies profit twice over from selling pesticides and from the drugs for the disease. Her remarks sparked condemnations from politicians, including Marine Le Pen, who accused her of antisemitism.

The head of the far-left party faction in the French National Assembly, Mathilde Panot, is refusing to take part in the breast cancer awareness month campaign ('Pink October') and to wear the pink ribbon. In a video she published on X on October 9, she explains that the refusal stems from her opposition to multinational corporations, and especially to the Syngenta group and its Israeli subsidiary 'Adama'. Panot claims that these companies spray pesticides on Palestinian and Lebanese lands, and then sell the drugs for the diseases those substances cause. 'When you remove the pink coating, you discover absolute cynicism. That is how the poisoners profit twice,' she said. Her remarks sparked furious reactions from French politicians. Presidential candidate Marine Le Pen accused her of overt antisemitism. The Minister for the Advancement of Women's Status, Aurore Bergé, and former Health Minister Aurélien Rousseau also condemned her remarks and called them 'disgraceful'.