Emmanuel Macron did not have a lot of road to do between Brégançon and Toulon (Var) on Tuesday, to talk about old age and autonomy: one of the major projects for the start of the school year. He took the opportunity to announce the release of an envelope of 160 million euros - State and departments - for the 320,000 home help professionals who have spared no efforts since the start of the health crisis.
On vacation since last Wednesday at Fort Brégançon, the Head of State has carefully chosen his first work trip. Accompanied by Brigitte Bourguignon, Minister in charge of Autonomy, and Sophie Cluzel, Secretary of State for the Disabled, he went at the end of the morning in the Toulon two-room apartment of Gisèle Charles, 80 years old. Widowed for 14 years, she lives there alone with the help of a carer who brings her meals and does a bit of conversation. "I voted for you but I find that you do not do enough for the home helpers who take care of us so well", launches the old lady to the Head of State. Pole immediately seized by Emmanuel Macron came precisely in the harbor to pay tribute to the “nursing staff” who was indignant at not having benefited from the exceptional Covid bonus allocated in June to caregivers.
VIDEO. Macron announces a Covid bonus of € 1,000 for home helpers
“There are 800,000 people in France whose age justifies home help. 300,000 others are disabled, which makes more than a million French people in a situation of fragility and dependence ", explained the president, before promising this gratuity of around 500 to 1000 euros per carer before" by Christmas ”. What to repair what the auxiliaries felt like a cruel injustice, but also to clear the ground before "the great autonomy law" that the executive prepares for the re-entry. "It's good because we felt completely out of the way," admits Brigitte, a home help from Toulon, who came to listen to the head of state. “We cut back on our nights, our days and our health to help these lonely people who were locked in their homes. If we can take advantage of the Covid bonus, we are not going to spit on it, given what we earn! "
Surprise visit to a police station with Darmanin
In this city deeply rooted on the right, the announcement was well received: “It is always said that Emmanuel Macron does not listen. But yes, the proof! », Says Gilbert, a Toulonnais militant of the Republicans. After taking out the check for the guardian angels of the seniors (on which his re-election in 2022 depends) Emmanuel Macron had lunch with Hubert Falco, the LR mayor of Toulon. On the menu: prevention against Covid but also security after a series of settling of scores that has brought mourning to the city. “I explained to him the situation in some of our neighborhoods, plagued by drugs. We have lost 13% of our police force in four years: there is an emergency ”, confides the mayor, delighted that his fellow citizens have reserved“ the best welcome for the president ”.
A decidedly well orchestrated day: after lunch, the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, traveling in the Bouches-du-Rhône, joined the president and the mayor for a surprise visit to the police station, with the promise of ten reinforcements police officers. Compassion for the most fragile, message of firmness on public order: in Toulon, the president-vacationer had above all the air of a future candidate in the campaign. To complete the picture, it is rumored on the coast that a meeting is being prepared with his "neighbor of Cap Nègre", Nicolas Sarkozy, the former president who still reigns over the hearts of the Var.
