Decisive week for Emmanuel Macron.
So far, the facts seemed to prove him right: his choice not to reconfine had not led to the health catastrophe announced by epidemiologists.
"The last few weeks have been bearish, so it was the right decision," said one of his relatives.
"The president has won his bet," repeat in chorus his followers.
Except that for a few days, the indicators of entry into intensive care have panicked (with patients often younger), the transfers of patients have resumed as a year ago and, more symbolically, the contaminations continue at the top of the 'State: latest case, the Minister of Labor Elisabeth Borne.
In this context, the opposition finds its voice.
The elected officials of Paca and Nord Pas-de-Calais denounce serious inconsistencies.
"When I see the situation in Ile-de-France and Seine-Saint-Denis, not concerned by confinement while the curves are blazing, I have the impression that we are the Nice tree that hides the Parisian forest" , protested the LR mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi.
“These comparisons do not make sense, we defend ourselves at Matignon.
We cannot isolate departments, such as Seine-Saint-Denis.
Have people become infected in Paris but have been tested at home in the suburbs?
We have to think at the regional level.
However, there is still room for maneuver.
"
Nevertheless: Wednesday's defense council could tip the capital region under confinement on weekends.
To take this difficult arbitration, Emmanuel Macron will not only consult the opinion of the scientific council and the health indicators.
The equation is broader.
"Which side will the coin fall on?"
For now, it's 50-50, says a weighty adviser.
The decision will be political.
How to get confinement in Paris accepted?
People are tired, the beautiful days are returning.
How to prevent Parisians from going green and contaminating, while fleeing the capital, relatively unspoiled areas?
The executive must deal with the elected officials of the mayor of Paris.
“They changed their position three times in 24 hours, squeaks a minister.
The opposition is in the posture games.
"
"Each week without confinement is a week gained"
An additional turn of the screw would in any case be a bad signal for Emmanuel Macron who has bet everything on two levers to avoid unpopular measures: the vaccination of vulnerable audiences and the call for the responsibility of each in respect of barrier gestures.
Without waiting for a possible decline, the majority is already roving its arguments.
"Nothing says that if we had confined quickly and hard in February, as some advised us, we would not be wondering about a new confinement, at this time", we slip in the entourage by Jean Castex.
Where we hammer: "Each week without confinement is a week gained.
"The president of the LREM group in the Senate François Patriat adds:" The Italian government has put its country under cover and then reopened its restaurants and museums.
It must now reconfine.
Each country is groping, hesitating, stop-and-go, that's normal.
»Others, finally, underline the astonishing disconnection between the observed incidence rates and the situation in the intensive care units.
At the same time, the government is deploying major resources to show that the situation is under control.
Next Thursday and Sunday, two medical TGVs will leave Paris with 25 patients each on board.
This weekend, the vaccination campaign was carried out with full force, despite the controversies over the AstraZeneca serum.
"If I had the slightest doubt, I would ask for the suspension of the AstraZeneca vaccine," assured Jean Castex, who was speaking this Sunday evening on the Twitch streaming platform, dear to fans of video games.
It is my duty.
At this point, you have to have confidence in this vaccine and get vaccinated.
"And to add:" When we have vaccinated, we will find part of our freedom.
"An optimism that has not extinguished a slew of skeptical comments on the platform, including that of the user with the pseudonym" Nate_fisher ":" We are 5 million vaccinated in France against more than 23 in England.
What is the CONCRET plan to accelerate.
"