“It will have been quickly buried”: where has disability gone in the new Barnier government ? Associations are concerned

Disabled people's associations are concerned that disability is not mentioned in the title of Paul Christophe's ministry in charge of Solidarity, Autonomy and Equality between Women and Men. He wanted to reassure them.

Minister of Solidarity, Autonomy and Equality between Women and Men. The title of Paul Christophe's ministry, Horizons du Nord MP since 2017, does not mention disability, while the previous government had a Minister Delegate in charge of Disabled People, held by Fadila Khattabi.

Several disability activists are concerned that their cause is not included in the title, even though there was talk of a Paralympic legacy after the Olympics.

“It will have been quickly buried”, wrote on X the Collectif handicaps, which brings together 54 associations

The APHPP (Association for the consideration of disability in public and private policies), says it regrets on X, the fact that “the word disability has been literally removed from the government”. “How to trust a government that removes disability from its organizational chart ?”.

What to say to the 12 million disabled people in France ? Paul Christophe wanted to reassure them on X : “I have always been committed to defending the fundamental rights of disabled people and a more inclusive society. This is not going to change tomorrow. I am committed to this as a minister now".

When he was a member of parliament, Paul Christophe was behind several bills, including one on supporting parents of sick and disabled children.