"Lovers' amendment", cafes, beaches ... deputies plead to deconfinate faster

Access to nature, places of worship, cafes or romantic reunion: deputies including the majority pleaded Friday at the Palais Bourbon, in vain, to deconfinate more quickly.

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• 100 km challenge

The National Assembly examines since Thursday at first reading the bill extending the state of health emergency, which incorporates several measures for the deconfinement from Monday. Opposition deputies first challenged the travel limit set uniformly at 100 km, when it should take into account the classification in the green or red zone according to Pascal Brindeau (UDI-Agir), or " territorial specificities ", for example in Corsica, according to Philippe Vigier (Liberties and territories).

" In an ideal world we would have operated by living areas ", recognized the Minister of Health Olivier Véran.

Also read: Deconfinement: why did you choose a radius of 100 km to limit movement?

• A "lovers' amendment"

Mireille Clapot (LREM) unsuccessfully defended an " amendment of lovers " to allow spouses or distant partners to be able to find each other. " The law has so restricted public freedoms (...) that it is very close to banishing love, " launched the deputy.

Olivier Véran did not want to multiply the “ exceptions ” in the law, while thanking her for this “ moment of tenderness ”.

Read also: These couples who live separately confinement

• "Responsible access to nature"

Former PS Minister Delphine Batho (not registered) asked, with deputies of all stripes, for " responsible access to nature ", even during confinement, as requested in an online petition which collected some 15,000 signatures.

" Outdoor activity and physical exercise in open spaces " will be allowed from Monday, said the minister.

Read also: Deconfinement: what it will be allowed or not to do on May 11

• Access to the beaches

Deputies LR and UDI-Agir denounced a “ double standard ” on access to beaches, which will be done on a case-by-case basis with the authorization of the prefect. " I find you tremendously confident! "Exclaimed Olivier Véran, generally worried about the" signals "sent by these debates, which are not those" that the carers ask us to send "on" precautions "with a view to deconfinement.

Read also: Deconfinement: requests to open beaches are pouring in

• Opening of cafes

Other amendments including LREM were aimed at testing the opening of cafes, restaurants, hotels and nightclubs. Eric Coquerel (LFI) deplored that the government wants to " deconfigure the work, and the rest does not matter ".

Finally, some LRs and far-right elected officials have sought to authorize religious celebrations, Emmanuelle Ménard (not registered) calling for " declaring a state of cultural emergency ". The groups would not be " responsible ", replied Olivier Véran.

Read also: Deconfinement: all non-food businesses may reopen on May 11

Debates are progressing slowly in the hemicycle on this holiday, and the Minister recalled that the bill had to be adopted definitively before the end of the weekend.