In full containment, the arrival of Macron in Seine-Saint-Denis provokes a crowd and criticism

During the period of confinement, the videos of a maskless president, greeting a crowded crowd, did not fail to react. This Tuesday afternoon, Emmanuel Macron went to a health center in Pantin, in Seine-Saint-Denis, one of the departments most affected by the coronavirus epidemic, to pay tribute to caregivers.

After wearing a mask during his interview with these professionals, he removed it when he left the center, then facing dozens of residents of Pantin come to take a picture or call him, seeming to ignore the measures social distancing recommended since the beginning of confinement. The head of state, who stood several meters from them, urged them, clasping their hands, to "respect the rules" and therefore "to go home". A scene that has not failed to be decried on social networks.

During the presidential visit to Seine-Saint-Denis, a crowd formed near Emmanuel Macron./LCI

"The president will continue to move"

"In Pantin, residents agglutinated without any respect for confinement or social distancing, and that before the President of the Republic ... This is absolutely appalling", notably tweeted the president of the National Rally Marine Le Pen.

In #Pantin, residents agglutinated without any respect for confinement or social distancing, and that before the President of the Republic ... 😕

It is absolutely CONSTERNANT. MLP # COVID19 #RestezChezVous https://t.co/5OCqmCP2M7

Former yellow vest Benjamin Cauchy, who became spokesperson for Debout la France, was also outraged: “Another 1,427 deaths from the Covid-19 today, and Macron is going to be crowded without masks. But what a puppet! "

With the Parisian, the Elysée refutes any desire to have initiated a crowd around the president. “There was a post office next door, we are told this Tuesday evening. We are mainly trying to put this controversy into perspective, which Marine Le Pen will not fail to relay. ” The entourage of Emmanuel Macron advances another beginning of explanation: since the beginning of the confinement, there is no reconnaissance mission during the displacements of the president.

“We work in degraded conditions, without preparation. This is why this scene could take place, we still assure. We understand the questions it can raise, but let's not lose sight of the intention of this trip. ” And this same source specifies: "The president will continue to move, he must move. But we learn during each trip ”. Understand: the Elysée will be keen to ensure that these situations do not happen again.

Political Newsletter

I'm registering

Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to allow you to receive our news and commercial offers. Find out more

VIDEO. "The hour of confinement will last," says Edouard Philippe