Those who hoped for a clarification from the scientific council on the municipal may have remained on their hunger. Tuesday, May 19, the experts commissioned by Edouard Philippe finally returned their report. And the least we can say is that they remained very cautious about the possibility of organizing the second ballot in June in light of the Covid-19 epidemic. "The health situation has improved significantly compared to the start of confinement", they observe, but it is "difficult to anticipate an uncertain situation for the coming weeks", they qualify in the process by recommending, whatever or the date chosen, to "take into account the epidemiological situation in the fifteen days preceding the polling date". Not enough to enlighten the government, while the debates remain very lively with the oppositions on the right time to find. And, more surprisingly, among the majority as well.
A voice has stood out in recent hours, that of the President of the National Assembly Richard Ferrand, who now argues for a postponement of the election in March 2021, because of the risk of depriving the candidates of real means to campaign otherwise. "I will agree with the majority opinion of the majority. But it seems difficult to me to make the municipal without campaign, "he again pleaded Tuesday morning during the traditional breakfast of the majority, in the presence of Edouard Philippe and the leaders of political groups in the Assembly and the Senate.
A meeting during which Ferrand received the support of the boss of the senators LREM, François Patriat, who fears the judgment of the opinion if the election is maintained and that the epidemic starts again: "I hear the arguments of those who say that we must turn the page now: yes, the beaches and the schools have reopened; yes, five days of campaign in June are better than three weeks in September; yes, the intermunicipal authorities must be able to function normally, he confides. But organizing the elections in June does not seem reasonable to me. "
Avoid carrying responsibility alone
What sow a little more trouble in the mind of Edouard Philippe, rather starting for a second round in June, but who refuses to bear the responsibility "without consensus" of the political class. “We knew that the scientific council would not give a clear and frank go for June. But there, the report also raises a lot of technical constraints if we really want to hold this election, ”said, a little chilled, a minister.
As a result, the Prime Minister invited all the party leaders to Matignon on Wednesday evening to discuss the subject and obtain their opinion. "It is the staging of a decision that has already been taken," nevertheless criticizes the boss of the Republicans Christian Jacob, who is also somewhat tender with Ferrand's position: "He wants to upset the dates for electoral reasons. He wants to postpone to nationalize the ballot as much as possible, hoping that it can play for them. "
In short, a real headache that Emmanuel Macron himself rubbed himself late Tuesday afternoon by organizing a videoconference of almost three hours with twenty mayors and presidents of associations of local authorities. While most are pushing for a poll in June, they too are not immune to divergent views. Some, like Gérard Collomb in Lyon (Rhône), and close to the president, remain cautious and plead instead for a postponement beyond the summer.
But many elected officials also argue that when the country is trying to revive its economy, it would be folly not to allow cities to be able to elect their mayor, when they are the first order givers public. Tuesday evening, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said that the government would submit a report to Parliament in the coming days on the organization of the poll and the date to remember. A report which will no doubt be followed by a debate and a vote.