Invited on BFM TV, Agnès Pannier-Runacher thought she was delivering a brilliant analysis on Low Emission Zones. Thus, full of confidence, she dropped this now-famous phrase: "The less wealthy don’t have cars." Immediately, the whole of France choked on its coffee. Even bicycles nearly burst their tires in shock.
However, the surprise didn’t last long. Social media quickly turned into a giant stand-up show. Motorists first laughed, before remembering they were precisely in the targeted category. As for pedestrians, they hesitated between indignation and the urge to send a scooter to the minister.
A golden phone to probe the second-hand market
In the face of the storm, the minister kept her cool. Even better, she pulled out her secret weapon: the government phone. Thus, in the middle of a meeting, she had the bright idea to call a used car dealer. Stated objective: to check vehicle prices as if she were discovering the market for the first time.
This scene had the effect of an improvised comedy. It’s easy to imagine the dealer, on the other end of the line, bewildered to hear the minister herself. Moreover, the scene recounted by Alexandre Jardin went viral. "That phone call was worth its weight in gold," he joked, sparking another wave of digital laughter.
Internet users, pilots of dark humor
The French didn’t miss the chance to show their wit. On X, jokes flew like horns in a traffic jam. "The poor don’t have cars? Of course, with gas prices, they run on hope," quipped one user. Another joked: "Next time, the minister will explain to us that the homeless don’t have housing problems."
However, behind the humor lies a very real anger. Motorists in rural areas, often dependent on their vehicles, felt insulted. Especially since Crit’Air 3 vehicles, mainly older diesels, are common in these modest households.
A political sketch that crosses borders
This sequence didn’t remain confined to the French sphere. In Europe, commentators didn’t fail to compare this blunder to the famous gaffes of other leaders. In London, people still remember the famous "Let them eat cake" revisited by the English minister of the time. Here, the local version might well become: "Let them walk".
Thus, Agnès Pannier-Runacher’s statement finds its place in the pantheon of political blunders. Yet, the minister persists. She reminds that aid is planned to help modest households transition to cleaner vehicles. But again, many respond that to benefit from it, one would first need to be able to advance the money.
When disconnection becomes comical despite itself
What stands out in this episode is mainly the gap between the announced policy and the reality on the ground. The minister wanted to reassure. However, she offered a moment of biting comedy to the French already weary of poorly explained ecological constraints.
This ministerial misstep will remain in memories. Between dark humor and misunderstanding, it reveals a social divide amplified by the LEZs. For precarious motorists, the story boils down to one question: should we laugh or cry? Clearly, France has chosen to start by laughing, while waiting for better.
