On Monday, the National Assembly unanimously adopted at first reading a text to ban “puffs”, single-use electronic cigarettes popular with a young public. A first step towards a ban which will still have to be confirmed by Brussels. However, smoking or vaping in public places is already prohibited in France. A law that Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne has gotten into the habit of not respecting in the National Assembly. The government questions session attracts press photographers to report on the discussions between MPs and ministers. A practice whose rules are very regulated. Through the making of a photo showing the Prime Minister vaping in the hemicycle on December 5, the agency’s photographer Sipa Press, Jacques Wittlooks back on the exercise of his profession in the precincts of parliament.
What do we see in the image?
“I see Élisabeth Borne vaping,” Jacques Witt tells 20 minutes. A few days ago a member of France Insoumise reminded him that it was forbidden to vape in the hemicycle.” Indeed, on Wednesday November 28, Caroline Fiat (LFI) criticized the Prime Minister for vaping while she presented the new LFI motion of censure against the government. “Vaping in this chamber while I am talking to you is total contempt,” she said, adding: “We are not above the law.” The photographer therefore decided to remake a series of images of the Prime Minister with her electronic cigarette because this story had come back into the news. He adds: “This sends a detestable image in relation to respect for the law. »
As for the dialogue between Élisabeth Borne, Éric Dupond-Moretti, Minister of Justice, and Gérald Darmanin, Minister of the Interior, the photojournalist details that “it is just before the start of questions to the government. It’s not common to see them talking like that. It’s an exchange of a few words before the start of the session. I imagine about the questions MPs will ask them and who will answer them. » He explains that the photographers enter the hemicycle five minutes before the start of the session. They are normally only authorized to take photos when the President of the Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet, is installed and the session begins. Following a small negotiation, he admits to us that the photographers managed to obtain authorization to begin their work a little earlier because “it is more interesting to photograph ministers who arrive and meet before the start of the questions “. However, taking pictures during session interruptions is still prohibited and photographers must leave the chamber.
What is the shooting context?
The practice of press photography is indeed very regulated in the hemicycle. “We have two locations dedicated to photographers. The first is opposite the platform of the President of the Assembly which allows us to have a view on the left, on the right and extreme right parties, and on the right, on the left and extreme parties. LEFT. The second is called “the puppet” and is located at the bottom left of the president’s perch, where we have a view of the rebels, the ecologists, the PS and part of Renaissance, explains Jacques Witt at 20 minutes. There is the same location on the other side and we would like to have a few places dedicated to photographers in this space as well. »
The journalist explains that it is possible to have up to six photographers in each space and that obtaining a third would facilitate rotation during sessions in the event of excess, while allowing equal treatment in shooting angles of view. For this photo, he is placed in the space in front of the president. He is located approximately 20 meters from the scene and is obliged to use a telephoto lens of “300 mm or even 400 mm to capture the scenes while being close enough”.
The extra anecdote
Jacques Witt says that this session took place rather calmly but that he has experienced much more eventful ones in the past, particularly during the debate on pensions at the start of 2023. “At the time the questions in government lasted two hours. Rebellious France created chaos in the Assembly by screaming and insulting… In the end, we left rinsed! As a photographer, you have to be reactive and look carefully at what is happening because an incident can happen from all sides. » He continues by remembering another, more recent example, when the far-right deputies left the hemicycle. “When the deputies of the National Rally leave the Assembly, come down from the hemicycle, you take an overview, then you have to try to target Marine Le Pen who makes a rather astonishing gesture where she points her finger in the direction of the Dupond-Moretti”, as in the image above. While recognizing that “you also need a little luck and having the telephoto lens pointed at her”.