No more hesitation! Arrival Tuesday June 2 in the morning at the premises of Parisien - Today in France, it is the determined and fighting air that Agnès Buzyn answered for an hour to our questions. Less than a month before the second round of municipal elections on June 28, the LREM candidate is trying to relaunch herself in the Battle of Paris, despite two cannonballs: a disappointing score in the first round (17.3%), far behind Anne Hidalgo ( 29.3%) and Rachida Dati (22.7%), and, above all, confidences - catastrophic for her image - in the World where she described the ballot organized in the midst of the Covid-19 epidemic as a "masquerade".
"I want a campaign worthy, without personal attacks or short phrases," says the former Minister of Health. Which does not prevent him, while detailing his proposals, to attack the outgoing mayor Anne Hidalgo with a head ball, to make sweet eyes on the voters of Cédric Villani, while sparing Rachida Dati to recover, she hopes. , part of the voices from the right.
Has the health crisis we are going through forced you to review your priorities?
AGNÈS BUZYN. First of all, allow me to have a thought for all the victims of the epidemic and their loved ones, for all those who have been tried. This crisis has acted as a revealer of our weaknesses and must henceforth be an accelerator of our transformations. When we question Parisians, what concerns them most are the subjects of daily life: keeping their jobs, their accommodation, ensuring health security in schools, transport and workplaces. They also suffer from the absence of cultural and festive life. These are major concerns that I want to address in this campaign. These will be my three priorities: reviving the economy, taking care of everyone, and making Paris the model of sustainable urban planning.
Precisely, what do you propose to limit the economic effects of this crisis?
The resumption of economic life is absolute urgency, my number one priority. We can clearly see how a certain number of traders, craftsmen and restaurateurs have been weakened. To help them, I plan to significantly amplify the Marshall plan that I had already announced with a tax exemption for one year ( Editor's note: against six months proposed by Anne Hidalgo ), with a possible renewal of an additional year . I also hope that all businesses that want it in Paris, and in consultation with the unions, can extend their opening hours for a year, evening and Sunday. This will allow them to recover part of their turnover.
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How much have you costed your plan for traders?
This will cost around 400 million euros over two years. This is twice as much as what Anne Hidalgo offers. And it must be compared with the 300 million euros in savings that we have planned to make each year on operating expenses.
You always promised that you would not raise taxes or increase debt. Is it still tenable?
Taxes will not increase. But on debt, I am more cautious, because the situation is exceptional. This is where we can just regret that the mismanagement of the City of Paris has resulted in six billion euros of debt "in peacetime". We realize today how useful it would have been to manage this city with more rigor…
PODCAST. Municipal: in Paris, the campaign is also shaping up
Containment and telework risk accelerating the desires of departure of Parisians. What to do to retain them?
This is in particular due to the fact that certain families do not want to send their children to Parisian schools because the infrastructures are not up to par in terms of reception. I am planning a very large investment and renovation plan for schools and colleges which will allow social distancing and better hygiene, with a complete refurbishment of toilets and canteens. I also hope that our schools will be better adapted to global warming, because the students suffer excruciatingly from the heat in the summer. We have to go much faster than Hidalgo does. Paris cannot continue to empty itself of its families and its children.
What do you think of the emergency creation of these 50 km of new cycle lanes to promote the use of bicycles and avoid the rush of transport?
What has been done is part of the Vélo plan that I was defending: I am delighted. We can still regret that the closure of rue de Rivoli was not discussed or its impact assessed. As usual, the method is brutal.
But does this go in the direction of history?
I am very happy that many Parisians have started cycling. We must encourage this movement by making it safer, and at the same time act for those who cannot do it. Biking, when you're old, to do your shopping or go to the doctor with your children, it can also be complicated. I want to speak to everyone: families, the elderly, etc. For all of them, we must rather accelerate the transition to clean vehicles. We can also regret that the outgoing mayor absolutely ruined what had been launched by Bertrand Delanoë, that is to say Vélib 'and Autolib'. Autolib 'was still a great success, many Parisians used it. She carries these failures.
What do you offer then?
We must develop clean transport with Grand Paris, because we cannot do it alone, if we really want to be efficient. In this I take up the proposals of Cédric Villani, with whom we have always had many points of convergence. He is no longer a candidate for mayor of Paris ( Editor's note: he remains in the 14th arrondissement ), but I address myself to those who voted for him: I am completely in line with his ecological transition proposals. We had proposed in the first round an ecology plan of 4 billion euros. I now bring it to 5 billion, the amount he proposed in his campaign. This will allow us to act more strongly in favor of the energy renovation of buildings, cleaner transport and the creation of peaceful green areas.
Precisely, is it a failure for you not to have rallied to your side?
His choice is damaging. The division has been poisonous throughout this campaign. And we see that the voters of Cédric Villani, like those of the presidential majority, suffered. Me, I defend a central position, overcoming the divisions. And like him, I want a sustainable, ecological city.
But in our columns, on Monday, Cédric Villani explained that "the climate of the past few weeks did not allow us to engage serenely" by your side. What do you say to him?
I do not wish to argue with Cédric Villani. He made his choice, that of a solitary course.
What do you think of the agreement between Anne Hidalgo and David Belliard (EELV)?
Unfortunately, the Greens do not weigh as much as they would like. They opposed the concrete projects of the outgoing majority, but they were never listened to. Densification has always been done against their advice. I never understood why they continued to ally themselves with Anne Hidalgo, when her actions for six years were actually against a sustainable city.
Were you surprised by Anne Hidalgo's 30% in the first round?
We know that the abstention was massive. There may have been a slight distortion of the votes. The fragile people did not vote and some families had already left Paris since the schools were going to be closed on Monday. And then, I remind you that 30% is not such a good score for an outgoing mayor, when you know that in France 30,000 mayors were re-elected ( or elected, editor's note ) in the first round…
You have decided to maintain yourself. But do you seriously believe in your chances, given the differences with Anne Hidalgo and Rachida Dati?
I'm going to win! A match is never played in advance, for anyone, contrary to what the current mayor thinks who is already distributing the posts. I think my program clearly meets post-crisis needs. I took advantage of these two months of confinement to work, reflect, observe, have a reflection on the city of tomorrow. I did not use it to campaign or for political politics.
Isn't it a mistake to have refused to make an alliance with the Republicans and Rachida Dati?
We must be clear: we represent the presidential majority, support for the government and the President of the Republic. I think that an alliance of apparatus with a party, whatever it is, would have made readability of what our line is today.
However, in the 5th, the outgoing mayor Florence Berthout, who is on your list, has just announced that she was merging with LR…
I gave freedom to Florence Berthout, excellent outgoing mayor and who came first in the first round, to rally far behind her around an ambitious project for her district. I know all his loyalty to me.
Your post-first round declarations in Le Monde, when you called this election a “masquerade”, do they not still weigh heavily?
I should never have spoken to a reporter on the phone the day after an election. If I had to do it again, I wouldn't do it again. This telephone interview was done at the end of a day when I had attended negotiations for devices to file second round lists when I saw the epidemic progress, and I felt that the second round would not take place. I was shocked to see these discussions about merging lists that seemed totally out of touch with reality. We all felt that the confinement was going to be announced the same evening. I just expressed, at that time, my nervousness towards a political staff disconnected from the field. I said it with words that were too strong and shocked and I regretted it.
But will these words remain like a ball?
I will have the opportunity to explain my action to the French, especially when I was Minister of Health. There are times and frameworks to do it, I have my conscience for me on the actions that we have carried out throughout this crisis. The parliamentary committee of inquiry will in particular allow this to be done. I have complete confidence in the national representation so that we can learn from an event of this global magnitude.
Rachida Dati recently criticized "your moods" and your "indecent introspections"?
Do not count on me to get into personal attacks. It's too easy. I would prefer that we talk about our programs.
Do you understand the complaints lodged against you at the Court of Justice of the Republic?
Several complaints have been filed against members of the government. I let the justice examine them. And the commission of inquiry will be a very good time for explanation and feedback.
Did that make you hesitate to keep your candidacy?
Of course, I thought about it. I took the time to question the partners of the presidential majority, I checked that the heads of lists and the militants were always behind me. And this time of reflection has strengthened me. I know how much I can count on a united team, with a particular voice, less divisive, than that of my political opponents.
If the poll was postponed beyond June 28, would you remain a candidate?
I will be a candidate no matter what.