Tell the French the truth.
Without procrastinating.
At 8 p.m. this Wednesday, October 28, in a solemn speech on television, Emmanuel Macron put clear words on the threat.
"We are overwhelmed by a second wave which will undoubtedly be harder and more deadly than the first," he acknowledged, his voice deep.
In question: a "sudden acceleration of the epidemic" of Covid-19 that "even the most pessimistic forecasts had not foreseen".
To put a “brutal brake” on this tsunami, the President of the Republic brought out the heavy artillery.
"I decided that it was necessary to find, from Friday, the confinement which stopped the virus".
This term of "confinement", the Head of State had not spoken on March 16, when he announced that France would be put under a bell.
In practice, the new restrictions will last until “December 1 a minimum”.
A tolerance will be observed for families returning from vacation this weekend.
VIDEO. Emmanuel Macron asks the French to re-define themselves
After Wales and Ireland, France is therefore the third European country to brandish new confinement.
But this second episode will not look like the first, assures the head of state.
In order not to block the economy while avoiding dropping out of school, nurseries, kindergartens, schools, colleges and high schools will remain open.
Activity will continue in certain sectors, such as construction.
The “public service counters” will remain accessible.
"Nothing is more important than human life"
For the rest, Emmanuel Macron has bet on individual empowerment: “Stay at home as much as possible.
Follow the rules.
Success depends on the good citizenship of each and every one of us.
Every hour counts, ”he said, in his address to the nation, recorded a few minutes before its broadcast and punctuated by infographics.
To take the French, these famous "refractory Gauls" with him, whom he used to mock, the Head of State played his cards on the table.
From the Elysée village hall, his eyes fixed on the camera, he detailed the two alternative scenarios that he rejected.
The first would have consisted in adopting the "strategy of collective immunity", letting the virus sweep over the population.
Citing the calculations of the scientific council, he estimated at “400,000 additional deaths” the human price of this option.
"France (will) never adopt it," he vowed.
The second option in his bag would have been to "confine the only people at risk".
Clearly, the elderly.
No way.
"Nothing is more important than human life," he thundered.
And to add: "This period is a revealing of what we are".
In order not to sink into disaster, the Head of State urged the French to "hold out until the vaccine in the summer".
One way to open a window in this "endless day" ... "We will see if we can hope to cultivate this precious moment of the end of the year holidays", he blurted out.
Hours of discussions, and hesitation
If the announcements were clear, on the other hand, they will have given rise to hours of reflection and… hesitation upstream.
It all started on Wednesday morning.
Emmanuel Macron meets at the Elysee Palace for the second Defense Council of the week.
Fourteen ministers take part in the discussion, including Sébastien Lecornu.
The Minister of Overseas Territories intervenes by videoconference from New Caledonia.
For two hours, the Minister of Health Olivier Véran continues to call for “braking measures” and to warn of the imminent end of “hospital capacity”.
With Prime Minister Jean Castex, he defends a hard line, pleading for readable rules, with quick effects.
The head of state seems at that time to lean for more flexibility.
Behind closed doors, he then plans to grant many sectoral exemptions and expand the list of businesses classified as “essential”.
READ ALSO>
Reconfinement: Macron wants to avoid the collapse of the economy, at all costs
"It must be said that the president has been the subject of many direct solicitations from big bosses and professionals insisting on the economic impact," says a source at the heart of the matter.
It will finally give up too broadening the list of essential sectors, while announcing a review clause in two weeks for businesses.
Political Newsletter
Every day, political news seen by Le Parisien
I'm registering
Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to enable you to receive our news and commercial offers.
Learn more
The question of schools, on the other hand, was the subject of broad unanimity at the top of the State. Only the opening of high schools fueled strong discussions. The Minister of National Education Jean-Michel Blanquer wishes to close some of these establishments, at the request of certain epidemiologists. But the Minister of Education does not succeed. It is noon. The plan of attack begins to take shape. Presented in broad outline on television by the president, it will be completed Thursday at 6.30 p.m. by Jean Castex, on the occasion of a long-awaited press conference.