The current goes more and more badly between Emmanuel Macron and the doctors.
In a column published in the Journal du Dimanche, 41 crisis medical directors from the Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris sound the alarm.
Referring to a “disaster medicine situation”, they say they are preparing to have to “sort out patients in order to save as many lives as possible”.
“In the next fortnight”, say the signatories, “we already know that our support capacities will be exceeded”.
If the health situation appears critical, the Head of State does not intend to change tack immediately.
“Nothing has been decided,” he told JDD.
The hard confinements since December have not prevented a resumption of the epidemic which requires reinstating or extending the confinement, look at Italy or Germany.
The president sees in these foreign examples the validation of his own strategy, unveiled on January 19, that of "braking without locking up".
“For the next few days,” he insists, “we will look at the effectiveness of the braking measures and we will take, if necessary, those that are necessary.
"
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No sealing of the national territory
No taboo therefore, for the president.
A new Health Defense Council will be held on Wednesday, to decide on a possible hardening of the measures, but in the meantime, no putting the national territory under cover.
There is also no question of closing schools as many practitioners wish.
The chief executive even takes the risk of upsetting the medical profession a little more, stressing that "scientific unanimity has never been there (...).
Some said to us:
"In February, you are going to take the wall"
.
We didn't hit the wall.
We were able to avoid confinement.
"
But why, the head of state he engages in what looks like a standoff with the doctors?
“There is no standoff, we retort firmly in the entourage of the President of the Republic.
Emmanuel Macron is in daily contact with the medical profession and in particular the resuscitation services who tell us about their capacities.
The Scientific Council is consulted regularly.
But each is in his role.
And the one that necessarily falls to the Head of State is to decide, by taking a political decision that includes scientific rationality but also economic, social and societal rationality.
"
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Psychologists - who have just joined the Scientific Council - or child psychiatrists, recently received by Emmanuel Macron, do not all share the desire for hardening expressed by hospital doctors.
"Whoever speaks the loudest"
“Neither the doctors, nor any economic agent, or relay of the opinion are in the conflict with the executive, confirms a government adviser.
For us, every voice counts.
But it is also true that each voice wants to weigh and that it is who will speak the loudest.
"However, for a few days, the Parisian hospital workers have had a particularly high tone ..." This is something that we understand very well, recognizes a close to the government who does not especially want to add fuel to the fire between the head of state and doctors.
Because unlike the two previous epidemic waves, there is little or no room for maneuver in hospitals.
"
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This aggravation, Olivier Véran, the Minister of Health, on the front line in this health crisis, takes it head-on.
It is he who, with the Prime Minister, Jean Castex, has made a point, in recent days, to make the Elysee aware of this epidemic and health turning point.
With mixed success in the face of the interests defended in particular by Bruno Le Maire, the boss of Bercy.
"There is no difference of view between Olivier Véran and Emmanuel Macron, we hasten to ensure in the entourage of the President of the Republic.
It is normal that, during the Defense Councils which meet at the Elysee Palace and which are collegial bodies, each one transmits information from the field and gives his opinion accordingly.
Olivier Véran like the others.
The collective is a reality.
"
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Faced with doctors who are back to the wall, the position of the Head of State is, however, particularly delicate.
"We saturate everywhere, and we all realize that no one has control over key parameters such as the Covid variables or even vaccination, slips a grumbler from Macronie.
For the president, the decisions to be made will be even more difficult than in January.
However, they will be major both for the country and for his re-election.
"
