The initiative to state in the constitution that France "guarantees environmental protection and biological diversity, and combats climate change" originated in a citizen's body set up by Mr Macron last year.
He warned in the JDD weekly that changes "will prevent the agreement," as under French law a referendum can go ahead only if it is approved in identical wording by both houses of parliament. A majority of senators takes issue with the word "guarantee" in the bill, which they say implies that environmental concerns would take priority over other constitutional principles.
Centre-right senator Bruno Retailleau said Macron was guilty of "hypocrisy", saying the president "accuses us of obstruction to justify the cancellation of a referendum that he never wanted".
Idiotic idea 🤡