For a few days now, France has known the name of its future president of the republic for five years. After a five-year term that has not really been in favor of the vape, Emmanuel Macron is therefore preparing to lead France for a new term. Any surprises? Changes ? Can we find hope in this fight for risk reduction?
RISK REDUCTION, A FIVE-YEAR FOR NOTHING?
With 58,5% of the votes, a few days ago, Emmanuel Macron confirmed his hegemony and his position as President of the French Republic for 5 more years. For the world of the vape, his arrival aroused hope after a catastrophic five-year term of François Hollande and especially of his Minister of Health, Marisol Touraine…
However, Emmanuel Macron disappointed... The Europeanist approach and the arrival ofAgnès Buzyn at the Ministry of Health will have harmed the world of vaping for several years. A lack of support and constant denigration at a time when our beloved electronic cigarette was seeking recognition as an alternative to tobacco and a real risk reduction tool.
A last speech and then leaves. In 2018 then 2019, Minister Buzyn will make a timid meaculpa by declaring that the vape " is clearly less toxic than tobacco without assuming this discourse of real effects in the anti-tobacco policy. Caught up by the Covid-19 scandal, she will end up resigning in February 2020 and will be replaced by Olivier Véran known for having defended vaping many, many times.
Totally concerned by the Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, Olivier Véran never really showed his interest in vaping during his term of office. He will nevertheless have taken the initiative to authorize the sale of vaping products during confinement, considering in passing the vape as " essential product“. Yet combative as a deputy and having himself quit smoking thanks to vaping, we were entitled to expect better, to expect more from Minister Véran.
Failing to have seen clear improvements in the reduction of risks or in the management of the reimbursement of vaping products, we observed an aggressive policy of the European Union, a catastrophic opinion from the High Authority of Public Health , a price of tobacco that has exploded without any possible compensation for smokers.
WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT FROM THE NEXT FIVE-YEAR FOR VAPE?
The European Union under the French presidency will in some way have to lead by example and for this reason optimism is clearly not there. According to some sources, Minister Véran could remain in government but in another position. If a fervent defender of the vape could not or did not know how to move the lines on the current policy on the electronic cigarette, it is hard to imagine how this could change in the coming months. The explosion of the “Puff” market could also be a real scratch in the fight for risk reduction.
However, it is not yet time to give up and as long as there is life, there is hope. Let's wait for the appointment of the new tenant of the Ministry of Health, once again, we will have to fight, defend ourselves and inform more and more to continue to convince of the usefulness of vaping.
