Now when a major nuclear disaster becomes evident in Japan, I want to reaffirm the solidarity and support of French Communists to the Japanese people. This situation must be taken very serious by French authorities and major emergency assets and expertise must be put at the service of the people affected by this disaster.

In this context, the French Communist Party FCP shares the concerns of French people for their own safety and each hour that passes makes a public debate on national energy policy more urgent.

This debate should be serious and consistent. The disaster in Japan opens a great debate on nuclear power and intercedes for the global warming and the depletion of fossil resources that also require the abandon of carbon energy.

Therefore a wider debate should be held with a general evaluation of our energy choices. I ask, on behalf of the FCP, the organization of a large national public debate that would help to set specific conditions to the necessary evolution of the energy mix to ensure in France and worldwide the right to energy for all in the coming decades.

The FCP wishes to contribute immediately to this debate and will organize in its national headquarters a major initiative on 29 March titled "After the nuclear disaster in Japan – What energy policy for France?”

Pierre Laurent, EL President and Secretary General of French communist Party