I believed in it. I believed in François Hollande, in his ability to unite people. I believed in all of us. I was wrong.
I tried to help the President of the Republic keep his promises, to encourage him to change people's lives, to push him to implement a truly left-wing policy. And I failed. So I left. Here I recount my journey behind the scenes of power. With sincerity, acknowledging my mistakes, and also recalling how some great battles were won.
I believed in it. I believed in François Hollande, in his ability to unite people. I believed in all of us. I was wrong.
I tried to help the President of the Republic keep his promises, to encourage him to change people's lives, to push him to pursue a truly left-wing policy. And I failed. So I left.
Here I give the account of my journey behind the scenes of power. With sincerity, acknowledging my mistakes, also recalling how great battles were won, telling without embellishment how things happen "from the inside", without hiding that being a female minister, an environmentalist, and a mother of four is often difficult.
I refused to remain a minister because for me politics is not the art of giving up, and because I am convinced that there is another possible path: that of ecology.
Cécile Duflot led the Green Party from 2006 to 2012. She was Minister for Territorial Equality and Housing from May 2012 to April 2014. An urban planner by profession, she is now a member of parliament for the sixth constituency of Paris.
