Michèle Rivasi

{{Infobox officeholder

| image = Michèle Rivasi,France-MIP-Europaparlament-by-Leila-Paul-2.jpg

| name = Michèle Rivasi

| caption = Rivasi in 2014

| office = Member of the European Parliament

| term_start = 14 July 2009

| term_end = 29 November 2023

| constituency = South East France

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1953|2|9|df=y}}

| birth_place = Montélimar, France

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2023|11|29|1953|2|9|df=y}}

| death_place = Brussels, Belgium

| party = Europe Écologie–The Greens (from 2009)

| nationality = French

| religion =

| occupation =

| majority =

| relations =

| spouse =

| alma_mater = ENS Fontenay-aux-Roses

| children =

| website =

| footnotes =

| otherparty = {{Plain list|

Independent (until 2002)
Socialist Party (2002–2003)
The Greens (2005–2009)

}}

| office1 = {{NA MP}} for Drôme's 1st constituency

| termend1 = 18 June 2002

| termstart1 = 12 June 1997

| predecessor1 = Patrick Labaune

| successor1 = Patrick Labaune

| successor = François Thiollet

}}

Michèle Rivasi (9 February 1953 – 29 November 2023) was a French politician who served as a member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 2009 until her death in 2023, for Europe Écologie–The Greens. She was previously a member of the French National Assembly and before that, a teacher. An environmentalist active since the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, she was also a leader of Greenpeace in France.

Early life

Born on 9 February 1953, in Montélimar, Drôme, in southeastern France.{{cite web|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/members/expert/alphaOrder/view.do?language=EN&id=96743|title=Your MEPs : Michèle RIVASI|work=Europa|publisher=European Parliament|access-date=5 April 2011|archive-date=17 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317105536/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/members/expert/alphaOrder/view.do?language=EN&id=96743|url-status=live}} She was an alumna of the École normale supérieure de Fontenay-aux-Roses and taught biologyCarmen Paun (15 January 2018), [https://www.politico.eu/article/the-greens-vaccine-critic-radical/ Europe's green brawler] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003084740/https://www.politico.eu/article/the-greens-vaccine-critic-radical/ |date=3 October 2019 }} Politico Europe at Institut Universitaire de Formation des Maîtres before entering politics.

Political career

=Career in national politics=

In 1986 Rivasi founded the Commission for Independent Research and Information on Radioactivity following the Chernobyl disaster.{{cite news |last= |first= |date=29 November 2023|title=Décès de Michèle Rivasi|trans-title= |url=https://www.criirad.org/29-11-2023-deces-de-michele-rivasi/|language=French|work=Commission for Independent Research and Information on Radioactivity|location= |access-date=30 November 2023}}

From 1997 until 2002, Rivasi was a member of the National Assembly, representing the Drôme's 1st constituency (Valence).[https://www2.assemblee-nationale.fr/deputes/fiche/OMC_PA2576 Michèle Rivasi] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811194759/http://www2.assemblee-nationale.fr/deputes/fiche/OMC_PA2576 |date=11 August 2020 }} National Assembly. In parliament, she served on the Defence Committee. She was classified as an independent ecologist close to the PS, but later joined Europe Écologie–The Greens.{{cite web|url=https://www.ecolopedia.fr/?p=3342|title=Michèle Rivasi|work=Ecolopedia|date=22 August 2016 |language=French|access-date=30 November 2023|archive-date=13 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813220709/http://www.ecolopedia.fr/?p=3342|url-status=live}}

From September 2003 to November 2004, Rivasi was the director of Greenpeace in France.{{cite news|last=Dodet|first=Remy|date=2 November 2016|title=EELV. Rivasi contre Jadot : ils ont le même programme... mais ne s'aiment guère|trans-title=|url=https://www.nouvelobs.com/politique/election-presidentielle-2017/20161102.OBS0602/eelv-rivasi-contre-jadot-ils-ont-le-meme-programme-mais-ne-s-aiment-guere.html|language=French|work=L'Obs|location=|access-date=30 November 2023|archive-date=26 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526081933/https://www.nouvelobs.com/politique/election-presidentielle-2017/20161102.OBS0602/eelv-rivasi-contre-jadot-ils-ont-le-meme-programme-mais-ne-s-aiment-guere.html|url-status=live}}

=Member of the European Parliament, 2009–2023=

In 2009, The Greens selected Rivasi to lead the Europe Écologie list in the South-East constituency ahead of the 2009 European elections, in addition to which she was an assistant to the Mayor of Valence, and a member of the General Council of the Drôme.{{cite news|last=|first=|date=29 January 2020|title=Valence : Michèle Rivasi soutient "Avec" mais ne figurera pas sur la liste|trans-title=|url=https://www.ledauphine.com/politique/2020/01/28/valence-michele-rivasi-soutient-avec-mais-ne-figurera-pas-sur-la-liste|language=French|work=Le Dauphiné libéré|location=Drôme|access-date=30 November 2023|archive-date=2 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102195635/https://www.ledauphine.com/politique/2020/01/28/valence-michele-rivasi-soutient-avec-mais-ne-figurera-pas-sur-la-liste|url-status=live}}

In parliament, Rivasi served on the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (2009–2014), the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (2014–2019) and the Special Committee on the European Union's authorisation procedure for pesticides (2018).{{cite web|url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/96743/MICHELE_RIVASI/history/8|title=Michèle Rivasi|work=European Parliament|date=9 February 1953 |access-date=30 November 2023|archive-date=16 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616114745/https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/96743/MICHELE_RIVASI/history/8|url-status=live}} After the 2019 elections, she served on the Committee on Development and the Committee on Budgetary Control.[http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/96743/MICHELE_RIVASI/home Michèle Rivasi] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191005000818/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/96743/MICHELE_RIVASI/home |date=5 October 2019 }} European Parliament. From 2010 until 2011, she notably served as the Parliament's rapporteur on measures to co-ordinate the European response to health crises such as the 2009 flu pandemic.Peter O'Donnell (7 July 2010), [https://www.politico.eu/article/ministers-admit-flu-errors/ Ministers admit flu errors] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003084812/https://www.politico.eu/article/ministers-admit-flu-errors/ |date=3 October 2019 }} European Voice.Dave Keating (7 December 2011), [https://www.politico.eu/article/commission-seeks-powers-to-lead-eu-health-crises-response/ Commission seeks powers to lead EU health-crises response] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003084731/https://www.politico.eu/article/commission-seeks-powers-to-lead-eu-health-crises-response/ |date=3 October 2019 }} European Voice. In 2020, she also joined the Special Committee on Beating Cancer.[https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sed/doc/news/flash/24221/Full%20Members%20new%20committees_09-07-2020_en.pdf Members of the Special Committee on Beating Cancer] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112124345/https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sed/doc/news/flash/24221/Full%20Members%20new%20committees_09-07-2020_en.pdf |date=12 November 2021 }} European Parliament, press release of 9 July 2020. From 2021 onwards, she was part of the Parliament's delegation to the Conference on the Future of Europe.[https://conference-delegation.europarl.europa.eu/en/members.html Members of the delegation to the Conference on the Future of Europe] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610155650/https://conference-delegation.europarl.europa.eu/en/members.html |date=10 June 2021 }} European Parliament.

Following the 2019 elections, Rivasi was part of a cross-party working group in charge of drafting the European Parliament's four-year work program on digitization.Florian Eder (13 June 2019), [https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/brussels-playbook/politico-brussels-playbook-presented-by-google-madrids-moment-parliament-working-groups-sneak-peak-happy-birthday-gdpr/ POLITICO Brussels Playbook, presented by Google: Madrid's moment — Parliament working groups sneak peak — Happy birthday, GDPR] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301113616/https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/brussels-playbook/politico-brussels-playbook-presented-by-google-madrids-moment-parliament-working-groups-sneak-peak-happy-birthday-gdpr/ |date=1 March 2021 }} Politico Europe.

In addition to her committee assignments, Rivasi was also part of the Parliament's delegation to the ACP–EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly beginning in 2009. She was also a member of the European Parliament Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals[http://www.animalwelfareintergroup.eu/about-us/members/ Members] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831215301/http://www.animalwelfareintergroup.eu/about-us/members/ |date=31 August 2019 }} European Parliament Intergroup on the Welfare and Conservation of Animals.

Ahead of the 2017 French presidential election, Rivasi ran for her party's nomination for the presidency but eventually lost in the final round of the primaries against Yannick Jadot.{{cite news|author=Sébastien Tronche|title=Yannick Jadot élu candidat d'EELV face à Michèle Rivasi pour la présidentielle de 2017|url=http://lelab.europe1.fr/yannick-jadot-elu-candidat-deelv-face-a-michele-rivasi-pour-la-presidentielle-de-2017-2893619|work=Le Lab|publisher=Europe 1|date=7 November 2016|access-date=24 February 2017|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170225130301/http://lelab.europe1.fr/yannick-jadot-elu-candidat-deelv-face-a-michele-rivasi-pour-la-presidentielle-de-2017-2893619|archive-date=25 February 2017}}Quentin Ariès (7 November 2016), [https://www.politico.eu/article/french-greens-yannick-jadot-mep-for-2017-presidential-race/ French Greens pick MEP Jadot for 2017 presidential race] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003084746/https://www.politico.eu/article/french-greens-yannick-jadot-mep-for-2017-presidential-race/ |date=3 October 2019 }} Politico Europe.

In February 2019, Rivasi was one of four Green MEPs (the others being Molly Scott Cato, Tilly Metz, and Thomas Waitz) who were temporarily arrested after breaking into the Kleine Brogel Air Base to protest against the presence of U.S. B61 nuclear bombs on European soil; the protest followed the U.S. withdrawal from the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty earlier that month.Eline Schaart (20 February 2019), [https://www.politico.eu/article/four-green-meps-arrested-after-anti-nuclear-protest-at-belgian-military-base/ 4 Green MEPs arrested after anti-nuclear protest at Belgian military base] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003084729/https://www.politico.eu/article/four-green-meps-arrested-after-anti-nuclear-protest-at-belgian-military-base/ |date=3 October 2019 }} Politico Europe.

Political positions

Rivasi described herself as "vaccination skeptic".[http://www.michele-rivasi.eu/medias/vaccins-de-la-necessite-de-debattre-pour-restaurer-la-confiance-stop-aux-proces-en-sorcellerie/ Rivasi's blog] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504225908/http://www.michele-rivasi.eu/medias/vaccins-de-la-necessite-de-debattre-pour-restaurer-la-confiance-stop-aux-proces-en-sorcellerie/ |date=4 May 2018 }}. She sparked controversy in July 2021 after comparing the extension of the health pass obligation announced by President Macron with apartheid and many left-wing officials, including from the Greens, expressed their indignation and criticised her.{{Cite web |url=https://bbc-edition.com/space/2021/07/13/comments-by-green-mep-michele-rivasi-about-the-health-pass-are-controversial-on-the-left/ |title=BBC |access-date=16 July 2021 |archive-date=16 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210716134609/https://bbc-edition.com/space/2021/07/13/comments-by-green-mep-michele-rivasi-about-the-health-pass-are-controversial-on-the-left/ |url-status=live }} On two occasions in 2021, she made a communication to the so-called ″conseil scientifique indépendant″ (Independent scientific council) of the highly controversial RéinfoCovid website that propagates COVID-19 vaccine misinformation.Vincent Coquaz [https://www.liberation.fr/checknews/quest-ce-que-le-conseil-scientifique-independant-qui-a-invite-michele-rivasi-a-une-reunion-publique-20210427_POUCZVBEC5B3LJJN6QRNIZSW6U Libération] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201160931/https://www.liberation.fr/checknews/quest-ce-que-le-conseil-scientifique-independant-qui-a-invite-michele-rivasi-a-une-reunion-publique-20210427_POUCZVBEC5B3LJJN6QRNIZSW6U/ |date=1 December 2021 }}, 27 April 2021.

Rivasi was a strong supporter of alternative medicine and homeopathy.[https://reporterre.net/L-offensive-contre-l-homeopathie-veut-eradiquer-une-pensee-medicale-alternative Reporterre] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629143046/https://reporterre.net/L-offensive-contre-l-homeopathie-veut-eradiquer-une-pensee-medicale-alternative |date=29 June 2019 }}, June 2019 She opposed the planned Midi-Catalonia (Midcat) pipeline that would more than double the amount of gas that can be piped across the Pyrenees mountains that border Spain and France.Geert De Clercq (17 April 2018), [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-spain-gas-exclusive/exclusive-viability-of-french-spain-gas-pipeline-questioned-report-idUSKBN1HO34R Exclusive: Viability of French-Spain gas pipeline questioned – report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003093222/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-spain-gas-exclusive/exclusive-viability-of-french-spain-gas-pipeline-questioned-report-idUSKBN1HO34R |date=3 October 2019 }} Reuters.

Death

Rivasi died from a heart attack in Brussels on 29 November 2023, at age 70, while on the way to the Parliament.{{cite news |title=Décès de Michèle Rivasi : les réactions politiques à la mort de l'eurodéputée drômoise |url=https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/politique/deces-de-michele-rivasi-les-reactions-politiques-a-la-mort-de-l-eurodeputee-dromoise-1325281 |access-date=29 November 2023 |publisher=ici |date=29 November 2023 |archive-date=29 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129151959/https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/politique/deces-de-michele-rivasi-les-reactions-politiques-a-la-mort-de-l-eurodeputee-dromoise-1325281 |url-status=live }}