French government minister Christian Eckert got a rough ride in Paris on Thursday.
Invited to address the Congress of Tobacconists the junior Budget minister was welcomed by the sight of 500 delegates wearing white masks to represent their opposition to plain packaging.
According to one report (I paraphrase):
The minister had to face boos and whistles from tobacconists, now unmasked. At times the minister was inaudible.
Despite this hostile environment Eckert outlined government policy on tobacco including key measures such as plain packaging, which was loudly booed by the audience.
In contrast Pascal Montredon, president of the French tobacconist federation, got a standing ovation when he declared:
“Tobacconists love France. The French love their tobacconists. But does this government love the tobacconists?”
Below: French junior Budget minister Christian Eckert addresses the tobacconists' national congress in Paris on November 6:
Photos: Bertrand Guay/AFP/Getty Images