Theory is one thing, putting it into practice is another. In the aftermath of the containment exit plan presented by Édouard Philippe, followed by 14 million viewers on Tuesday, the Prime Minister set to work this Wednesday on the implementation of this unprecedented project planned to be operational from May 11. One more marathon day for the Matignon tenant. He started it with a two-hour videoconference with associations of local elected officials, followed by round trips to the Assembly and the Senate for questions to the government, before a new "video" in the early evening , but with the prefects this time.
It must be said that the questions remain numerous to prepare the thorny course of May 11: the reopening of schools, the puzzle of transport, the wearing of a generalized mask, or the implementation of massive tests for people with symptoms as well as their contacts. With a major challenge: to be at the rendezvous of deconfinement so that the country avoids "the risk of collapse", in the words of Philippe used at the Palais Bourbon, or a second epidemic outbreak.
VIDEO. "May 11 is mission impossible" ... The concern of mayors before the schools reopen
In this fight, it is the local actors who will be on the front line, hence the meeting this morning, which brought together no less than thirteen ministers. “It went well, there was no rant, but a really constructive atmosphere. We can emphasize this because it is not always the case when elected officials are faced with members of the government, ”said a participant.
The question of masks at the heart of the discussions
The question of masks notably occupied the discussions. While Edouard Philippe announced that the State would bear 50% of the cost borne by the municipalities which will place orders, Dominique Bussereau, president of the Association of French Departments, noted that this measure was discriminatory for those who did not wait for this financial boost by already distributing masks to their citizens. "Basically, we punish good students!" “, Reproached the elected representative of Charente-Maritime. "I hear and understand what you are saying," returned the Prime Minister who will announce a few hours later before the Senate that the measure would ultimately be retroactive for municipalities that have already incurred spending.
Another concrete response expected on the very complex control in public transport, the resumption of which will be conditional on the wearing of the mandatory mask, with passenger capacity reduced by half. "How do you prevent people from getting on a metro?" ", Notably questioned the mayor of Lyon Gérard Collomb, in the name of the association of big cities in urban France, estimating that it would be necessary to filter" at the entrance of the stations ". Christophe Castaner, the Minister of the Interior, thus suggested that the controllers employed by the transport authorities could have police powers.
The question of the criminal responsibility of elected officials then came on the table, many dreading prosecution in the event of contamination of a child who would return to school. A hot topic, to the point that Senator LR Yves Maurey has tabled a bill to legally protect mayors in the run-up to this reopening. "The question is sensitive," admitted Edouard Philippe, promising to "look at the initiatives" that could answer them, but without saying more at this stage.
"The nights will be short by May 11"
It remains to be seen precisely in what context, and according to which modus operandi, certain schools will be able to reopen from May 11. A health protocol, with a welcoming and educational doctrine, will be presented this Friday by Jean-Michel Blanquer. "But we must also know what room for maneuver will have mayors, depending on whether their department will be in the green zone or in the red zone," worries the mayor (LR) of Beauvais Caroline Cayeux, president of the Federation of Cities of France .
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Should we de facto associate the color red (the virus is circulating too much) with the impossibility of being able to open a school? "I do not wish it," retorted the Minister of National Education this Wednesday morning, preferring to leave latitude to the mayor / prefect couple in this choice. A first map of France of the departments classified in green or red zone should also be presented this Thursday by Jérôme Salomon, the director general of Health, during his daily press briefing.
"It will of course be evolving by May 11, depending on the level of spread of the virus," said Matignon, aware of advancing in troubled waters until that date. “We still have ten days to clarify the plan. The race against the clock has started. The nights will be short by then, ”summarizes support from Edouard Philippe.