France, April 21 -- The head of French aerospace giant Safran has ignited a political row after declaring the company will no longer invest in cities governed by environmentalist majorities.

Remarks made last week by Safran CEO Olivier Andries have reignited the debate around France's push for "green reindustrialisation" - or sustainable development - highlighting divisions over how to balance economic growth with environmental concerns.

Speaking before a parliamentary inquiry into barriers to reindustrialisation, Andries sharply criticised Green Party members in Rennes for opposing a proposed foundry that would create some 500 jobs, accusing them of blocking progress based on ideology.

"We had a solid agreement with the Socialist mayo...