Rarely has a speech by the Prime Minister, delivered at the rostrum of the National Assembly, been expected by the French. Édouard Philippe started writing it on Sunday evening. It is finally to reveal the practical modalities of deconfinement, in view of May 11.
The form of the speech? " A sort of press conference without" slides ", with a large number of details, without going to a degree of prefectural precision ", summarizes one of his advisers. Clearly: no question that it looks like a declaration of general policy. The executive promises something concrete about masks, tests, rallies, transport, etc. A perspective that questions the opposition, in all of its components (read below) . Why not give MPs more time to assess the ads? Why rush a vote on Edouard Philippe's statement in the afternoon?
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The government retorts that it is not a question of presenting a law, but an action plan decided by the government - its prerogative. " The Prime Minister could have made a statement in a television news. Instead, he decided to speak to the Assembly. It is a gesture towards parliamentarians. And now the same people protest. As if that was never enough! ”, We get annoyed at Matignon. And to add: " According to these elected officials, how long should we wait?" 12 hours? 24 hours? More? The principle of dialogue must not contradict the logic of action, especially in times of health crises! "
As often since the start of the epidemic, this decision hides a new disagreement at the top of the state. " Emmanuel Macron was ready to grant more time, on behalf of national unity , understands an adviser to the executive. "But the Prime Minister did not want to give the impression of floating before the end of the vote to close the sequence." It must be said that Edouard Philippe's calendar is tight.
Read also: Pressure, tension, confusion: behind the scenes of the May 11 battle
As of Wednesday, he lights up operational implementation: in the morning, he presents the plan to large associations of elected officials, in the presence of ministers Jacqueline Gourault and Sébastien Lecornu. Then he had lunch with representatives of the majority. In the process, he must address the prefects. Other, more social announcements must be declined next week, such as the holidays for children from the poorest families - a project led by Secretary of State Gabriel Attal.
The development of the decontainment plan gave rise to discussions until the last minute. Monday morning, meetings were still held in Matignon on the question of sport, leisure, museums, restaurants. The closure of high schools until September was raised as a hypothesis over the weekend. The executive fears the backlash, with a second epidemic wave. Matignon had also pleaded a few weeks ago for a later deconfinement. It will therefore start on May 11, Emmanuel Macron decided, but its pace will be progressive. " Audacity is sometimes to be cautious" , we slip into the entourage of Edouard Philippe.
Faced with the tensions that arise between the two heads of the executive and the maneuvers of some to settle in Matignon after the crisis, the Élysée plays the appeasement. " It would make a lot of sense to continue with the man who very effectively manages the setting of the president's directions to music ," assures a member of Emmanuel Macron's inner circle. In Matignon, a close friend of the Prime Minister swears, " there is no more tension than friction with the president and there will never be" The urgency is to be defined, politics will come in its time. Monday afternoon, the Head of State met at the Élysée Palace his Prime Minister, but also Olivier Véran, Élisabeth Borne, Bruno Le Maire, Jean-Michel Blanquer and the Director General of Health, Jérôme Salomon, for the latest arbitrations before the presentation of the plan. The one on which Édouard Philippe still plays his place.