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Covid-19: Jean Castex hardens his tone in the face of opposition

2021-04-01T17:59:30.187Z


During a heated debate followed by a vote boycotted by the oppositions, the Prime Minister tried to defend the government's health strategy.


The choreography is well known.

In the aftermath of announcements of new restrictions by the President of the Republic, instructs the Prime Minister to decline their implementation before Parliament, as part of a debate followed by a non-binding vote provided for by article 50 -1 of the Constitution.

Before parliamentarians, Thursday, Jean Castex first clarified some principles presented the day before by Emmanuel Macron: the consumption of alcohol on the public highway is now prohibited, the higher education competitions planned this month are maintained, the closure canteens will be partially offset by assistance to low-income families, travel between regions will be possible for professional but also family reasons.

Unsurprisingly, the Prime Minister then came under much criticism from the opposition.

To discover

  • Test, isolation: the procedure to follow in the event of a suspicion of Covid-19

Read also: Jean Castex, Prime Minister of Covid-19

Deploring, once again, a lack of consultation, the left groups have chosen to “boycott” the vote in the National Assembly.

“This meeting is a disgrace for the French Parliament.

It is useless, it will have no consequences.

Everything is decided and we are only invited to come and cheer you on, ”

criticized Jean-Luc Mélenchon.

It is

"a bad April Fool's Day, and April Fools, like all fish, rot through their heads,"

continued the leader of the rebellious deputies.

"This convocation is the mark of the monarch's most absolute contempt for Parliament and for the people,"

confirmed the Communist André Chassaigne.

Socialist side, the leader Valérie Rabault recalled that in Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel had debated

"for seven hours with the presidents of the regions to develop a consensus"

on the measures to be taken, when the French Parliament finds itself reduced to

"A recording room"

.

The right has chosen not to participate in the vote.

"

We are not here to validate your successive failures but to propose a clear, effective and transparent vaccination strategy, in order to give the French a new horizon rather than one more mirage

", justified the president of the LR group Damien Abad , by expressing a position adopted on Wednesday evening in consultation with Christian Jacob, Gérard Larcher and Bruno Retailleau, then with nearly 70% of the group's parliamentarians.

"

We will not take part in the vote, sending you back with all the oppositions to your own isolation and leaving you alone to assume the berezina of your health policy for which you bear full responsibility

", underlined the leader of the parliamentary right by qualifying article 50-1 of the Constitution allowing this type of debate of "

weapon of the weak

".

For the President of the Republicans Christian Jacob, this boycott is a way of responding to the head of state.

"

The President despises Parliament, Parliament returns its contempt to him

," he said.

Flood of reproaches

Over the course of a violent political trial conducted from the beginning of the crisis to the new confinement, perceived as a "

symbol of blind arrogance

", Damien Abad drew up a damning report.

He accused the executive couple of having "

always a time, a vision and a decision of delay

" and denounced the "

lost time

", as the "

health, economic, social and human cost

" of the government strategy.

On the contrary, it was by taking part in the ballot that the leader of the National Rally preferred to express her exasperation.

Marine Le Pen, as well as four deputies from her camp, thus voted against the government's declaration.

Way to emphasize that

"the period of health uncertainty that we are undergoing deserves better than the declaration of Emmanuel Macron".

A speech by the Head of State deemed worthy

"of an official of a regional health agency"

, in the words of Marine Le Pen at the podium of the Assembly.

Adding:

"He opened more questions than provided answers" on

the absence of treatment, the abandonment of the strategy of territorialization or the non-use of Russian and Chinese vaccines.

"In a situation that is turning into chaos, the country needs to be led more than to be ingenuously reassured,"

concluded the member for Pas-de-Calais.

On the platform, Jean Castex, visibly recovered, wanted to put the oppositions in the face of their contradictions and defend the government's strategy staunchly.

"I listen to you Tuesday after Tuesday, I consult you (…) but what was the music of the speeches?

“The shops, don't close them!”, “The ski resorts, don't close them!”

“Universities, reopen them, public cultural establishments, reopen them!”

I've heard that for weeks - not to mention the nightclubs - and now we'd be too soft!

Too late!

It's great!

Proof that we are undoubtedly in the middle ground ”,

carried off the head of government, punctuating his remarks with sudden movements betraying his nervousness.

Read also: Containment heightens tensions within the government

Joining the bench of the Hemicycle, Jean Castex immediately received the congratulations of the members of his government.

Minister Amélie de Montchalin whispered in his ear:

"Let the senators get ready for you to send them the same mash!"

Everyone needs to hear truths. ”

The upper house, dominated by the right-wing opposition, did not give the prime minister a better reception.

The vast majority of senators did not take part in the vote.

“You have been given very extensive powers, but what have you done with it?”

Asked the leader of the LR group, Bruno Retailleau.

Despite the deluge of reproaches, the Assembly and the Senate technically approved, by 348 and 39 votes respectively, the restrictions announced Wednesday by Emmanuel Macron to try to stem the third wave of the epidemic.

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2021-04-01

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