After listening to the press conference of the Minister of Health, this Thursday, a macronist sums up the feeling of the moment in these terms: “Clearly, Olivier Véran has just said that we must confine and we do not confine.
It's very strange… ”In fact, by noting that the curfew at 6 pm was not enough in the face of the variants of Covid-19, the executive continues to prepare the spirits for a turn of the screw.
But without revealing the content, which is still on the job after a week of hot and cold.
“We feel that we are heading towards confinement, but that the decision has not been taken because there are fifty shades of confinement.
I do not have the impression that things have been decided, neither on the nuance, nor on the timing ”confides the president of the Agir group to the Assembly, Olivier Becht, at the end of the meeting organized by videoconference by the Prime Minister, Jean Castex, with the presidents of the parliamentary groups.
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Same feeling in Valérie Rabault, her counterpart PS: “Everyone understood that they were going to re-define, but that the terms were not fixed.
"President of the LREM group in the Senate, François Patriat pleaded in this direction during the exchange:" We must take measures at the height of the danger.
Let's not take action too late.
"
Jean Castex, he did not reveal his game to parliamentarians.
The head of government did not present a scenario, but the levers on which it was possible to operate (shops, schools, curfews, borders, etc.).
As a result, most of the participants came out disappointed.
"As useful as a comb in the Prime Minister's toilet bag," tackles the entourage of a participant.
"As always, we are summoned so that they can say that they have consulted the Parliament, but we remain unsatisfied", regrets Hervé Marseille, the boss of the centrist senators.
Everyone goes their own way
“They ask us above all for our opinions.
We feel that the point on which they hesitate is the question of schools, ”continues Damien Abad, leader of LR deputies.
"We must protect our elders but save our young people", assures Renaud Muselier, president of Regions of France, relaying the insistence of elected officials to keep schools open.
For the head of government, it was also about taking “the pulse”.
But once again there is a scent of a missed date.
An announcement, all the same: if new measures are announced, they will be the subject of a debate and an advisory vote in the Assembly and the Senate.
"Before the implementation of containment?
»Asks Damien Abad (LR).
The head of government nods "yes".
But without further clarification on the date ... Several participants still deduced that Emmanuel Macron could make announcements this weekend or Monday, but the Elysée did not confirm this hypothesis this Thursday evening.
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VIDEO. Covid-19: "The curfew at 6 p.m. has relative effectiveness, other scenarios such as very tight confinement under study"
Because the president continues to consult in all directions, after having also requested additional details following the Defense Council on Wednesday.
"Everything is on the table, it is not just the expression," certifies an adviser to the executive.
It is up to the ministers to exchange views with the players in their respective sectors and to convey the results via notes.
"It is:
Do you work your brains to know where to place the cursors, give me options
", summarizes a member of the government.
“We have to find the best balance between the health issue and the economic issue.
The first lockdown was extremely effective, but extremely brutal.
The second less brutal, but less effective.
He wants to show that we adjust each time ", confides a faithful of the Head of State, deploring, however, to see" ministers trying to obtain arbitration on the TV sets ".
Thursday morning, the latter were also asked by Matignon to be silent.
No more hesitation or division should be displayed.
