"It is the return of politics"
, they say in those around him.
A reckless risk-taking, will we judge the Scientific Council.
In any case, a daring bet.
Contrary to what ministers and advisers have been asserting without reservation in recent days, Emmanuel Macron has chosen to refuse confinement.
At least for now.
The President of the Republic decided in the closed session of a Defense Council convened at the last minute on Friday evening.
Then he made his decision known in the wake, through the voice of his Prime Minister Jean Castex.
"He made the choice of confidence"
, congratulated one of his relatives, delighted by this arbitration.
To read also: Covid-19: where is the vaccination in your department?
Long awaited by the French, who wondered about the fate that was going to be reserved for them for a week, the Head of State has always wanted to keep the line he had set himself: that of "consistency".
This consisted first of all in respecting the imposed 15-day deadline before making an initial assessment of the curfew, introduced at 6 p.m. across the country on January 16.
A first impact study, delivered Friday to Emmanuel Macron, allowed him to see more clearly.
Certainly, as indicated by the Minister of Health and the government spokesperson, the current system
“does not sufficiently slow down”
the circulation of the virus.
But the figures which were presented to the president, and the results of a "flash" study on the presence of the British and South African variants on the national territory, are not yet such as to require the reconfinement.
Almost total closure of borders
With all due respect to the medical profession, which is clamoring for a hardening comparable to that of last spring - closure of non-food businesses;
closure of schools;
reduction of public transport;
compulsory generalization of teleworking;
limitation of travel;
derogatory exit certificates - the President of the Republic has opted for a solution to slow the progression of the virus, without however putting the economy at a standstill.
Clearly, he ruled so that the maintenance of the curfew, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., be accompanied by a few additional measures.
Foremost among which is the almost total closure of borders - inter and intra European;
new restrictions on overseas territories;
and the closure of major shopping centers.
"He made the choice of France,"
applauds a member of his inner circle.
Contain the anger
By making such a bet, Emmanuel Macron also hopes to succeed in containing the anger that was roaring in the country, and threatened to explode.
Scared by the example from the Netherlands, where the protests against the sanitary rules gave rise to violent riots, the President of the Republic also remains deeply marked by the crisis of "yellow vests".
He knows only too well that the country can catch fire in no time, and threaten to turn into insurgency.
However, the Head of State does not want to underestimate the health parameter and the dangerousness of the virus.
This is why he gave a very clear mandate to his Minister of the Interior, Gerald Darmanin, to tighten controls and sanctions against those who violate the rules in force.
This is aimed in particular at restaurateurs, who can no longer bear the long months of closure they have had to endure this year, and who launched a great call for civil disobedience on Monday.
If the watchword is followed, as has already been the case in Nice, Beauvau will not hesitate to respond firmly, by asking the police to increase the fines and the placements in police custody.
