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Jean Castex: "We are finally getting out of this health crisis in a sustainable way"

2021-05-13T19:41:21.888Z


EXCLUSIVE. The Prime Minister details exclusively in Parisien - Today in France the modalities of the next deconfinement. And promise


That's it.

The countdown has begun.

On May 19, France will rediscover its café terraces and its cinemas.

The country is reviving a little with its face of yesteryear.

In the government, it is the firing of the fight.

There is not much time left to prepare for this deadline.

Behind the scenes, the site is titanic.

It is necessary to review an incalculable number of sectors of activity, to avoid new hiccups, to refine the protocols against the Covid-19: "We reworked again last night the rules which will apply to the amusement parks", tells Jean Castex, receiving in his office on Monday morning the journalists of Parisien - Today in France.

Read alsoEXCLUSIVE.

Deconfinement: sanitary pass, gauges, reopening ... The detailed government plan

Health, economy, culture ... the Prime Minister has reserved for our newspaper the details of this deconfinement, the process of which will be completed at the end of June.

The head of government also speaks on the "hot" topics of the news: police officers killed during their service at the new platform to the vitriol of soldiers, through the jolts of the lists of the majority to the regional ones, Jean Castex - who will be the guest on Tuesday 11 May of the 8 pm newscast of France 2 - goes up to the front.

Interview.

THE HEALTH CRISIS

On May 19, a new stage of deconfinement will begin.

This time, is it really the end of the tunnel?

JEAN CASTEX.

I say it in the clearest way: we are finally emerging from this health crisis in a sustainable way.

Obviously, this exit will be done in a progressive, careful and accompanied way.

But the trend is clear, we are nearing the mark and that is good news.

However, epidemiologists speak of a daring bet, they point to the risk of too rapid deconfinement ...

This question is permanent.

When we are not going too fast, we are told that we are going too slow.

And reciprocally.

I have been living this for a year.

It is legitimate to ask the question, but our system is balanced.

It provides for braking measures in case the epidemic situation gets out of hand locally.

And I would add that it depends on everyone's collective behavior to respect the rules of the game, which has been the case so far.

Precisely, do you fear a relaxation during the Ascension Bridge?

Many French people have planned to go for the weekend ...

It is true that there is a risk of numerous crossovers, and therefore of mixing.

But you can go on weekends and respect the rules of the game, as was the case at Christmas, which was also a dreaded period.

Today, and this is the big difference, we have the possibility of getting vaccinated, including at our vacation spot: the vaccination centers will of course be open during Ascension.

Can we avoid a fourth wave, is the country sufficiently armed?

You should never exclude anything and remain hyper vigilant.

By controlling, in particular, the dissemination of variants through control measures, particularly at borders and at the homes of people in quarantine, which places us among the most demanding countries in Europe.

We also ordered vaccines that would allow for a vaccine booster in the fall, if necessary.

Concretely, on May 19, what will be the measures that will allow deconfining without going too fast like the last time?

The last time, two things happened: from the summer, it is clear that we collectively believed that it was over, and therefore there was a kind of relaxation.

There is nevertheless a major difference compared to last summer: we have learned and, above all, we have the vaccination.

And there, we maintain the curfew until the end of June.

No more curfew after June 30, that's for sure?

The story of this epidemic teaches us to be careful, but it is our goal.

On May 19, what will be the rules, exactly what will be new?

These rules, I specify that they do not go out of my hat, but they are the result of multiple consultations and are based on the opinion of the High Council of Public Health.

From May 19, we will be able to find the terraces, return to the theater, the cinema, the museum… with rules, of course, but life will begin to resume its course!

Which ones?

On the terrace, for example, there will be a gauge of 50% of the reception capacity.

You will have to be seated, six at the table maximum, without going inside the establishment.

In the cinema or at the show, the rule will be one seat in three, with a ceiling of 800 people per room.

And the shops?

All will reopen, including large shopping centers, with a gauge of 8 m2 per customer.

All the covered markets will also reopen under these same conditions.

For outdoor markets with a gauge of 4 m2.

LP Restaurants /

Regarding the terraces, how to avoid the inevitable mass gathering scenes?

I imagine that there could be some excesses, but I trust my fellow citizens to respect the rules.

There will be checks.

And I am sure that those in charge of these establishments, which have suffered greatly from these closures, will do everything to avoid them.

For private gatherings, the rule changes?

We are maintaining the recommendation of six people for the May-June period, and will be re-evaluating it by the summer.

Will you meet the target of 20 million vaccinated by mid-May?

Yes, I am optimistic that we will reach them by the end of Ascension weekend.

Even if the hesitation around the AstraZeneca made us slow down.

Are we going to end up with AstraZeneca doses on our hands?

We already have some in stock.

I can only repeat that it is necessary to be vaccinated with this vaccine, as I did myself besides.

And what about the health pass?

Its implementation is currently being discussed in Parliament.

But the general philosophy is to reserve this pass for major events that bring together around more than a thousand people at the same time.

Especially in large auditoriums, conference halls, major concerts, stadiums, etc. Conversely, it will not be required in workplaces, education, public services, museums, libraries, department stores, markets, vacation spots and places of worship ...

For Euro football, how will it be organized?

Will there be fan zones?

We are not going to ban fan-zones, but we will put in place an adapted health protocol.

And the Tour de France?

Is it going to happen normally?

Yes.

The health pass will not be imposed for Tour de France spectators at the roadside.

It would be impossible.

When can we give up the mask outdoors?

The Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, spoke of the end of summer ...

I hope so too, but we're not there yet.

Wearing a mask will undoubtedly, in the future, be a natural means of protection beyond the Covid.

Obviously, not permanently, mandatory, everywhere and all the time, like today.

But it could become a habit in the West, especially during winter flu.

When will we be rid of this epidemic?

Some scientists tell us that will be the case within a year or so.

But, I repeat, we have made progress to protect ourselves from its heaviest effects.

Economically, how can you avoid cutting the aid tap too quickly?

We have two principles.

First, progressiveness: we will not disconnect the devices suddenly.

Then adaptability: we will make tailor-made to take into account the differences in the situation.

A successful exit from the crisis also means a successful recovery of activity, the revival of our economy.

Are you worried?

No, I am optimistic.

Everyone is in the starting blocks.

I spent my time getting yelled at by people who wanted to be able to work.

The French have envy and energy.

SECURITY

Since Emmanuel Macron promised "peaceful life", two police officers have been killed.

How can the French still believe it?

Are there not a lot of statements, and ultimately a failure?

Two police officers killed are two unbearable tragedies, two unacceptable acts.

And I am, beyond that, perfectly aware of the existence of this strong, unacceptable violence in our society.

It is, in part, precisely related to the fact that we act.

We disturb.

And we will continue to disturb.

But these are not elements of language?

Force must always stay within the law. We are the government which, for thirty years, has strengthened the means of the internal security forces the most, whether in the fight against terrorism or against all forms of delinquency and criminality. We will have created 10,000 additional police and gendarmerie positions over this five-year term. We are putting the package on the means by making up for a lot of lost time. We are also strengthening our legal arsenal, as with the law against separatism and the law for comprehensive security that will be promulgated by the summer. Above all, as soon as I arrived, I wanted to provide additional resources. I am calling for an 8% increase in budget and I intend to continue this effort: the budgets of the Ministry of the Interior and Justice will increase again next year.

A new military column, published by the site of Current values, points to a risk of "civil war".

What are we talking about?

It's a far-right political platform, let's call a spade a spade.

They claim to speak for the military?

We can all call ourselves soldiers and sign a platform on condition of anonymity!

What is the proof that they are really soldiers?

Who are they ?

Let them show themselves off and assume if they consider that what is essential is at stake. I see it above all as a political maneuver.

I have confidence in the army of my country.

It is the honor of France.

THE ELECTIONS

In the Paca region, you had proposed an agreement to the Republicans to block the National Assembly.

He flipped.

What happened ?

Renaud Muselier publicly invited all goodwill to join him, especially the presidential majority.

We happen to have been working together for months on concrete projects in his region.

So I answered him positively, after having warned him, in the interest of a region where the RN is strongly established.

But without ever asking him to quit his party.

What happened next was exceptionally violent.

I saw a political party

(LR, Editor's note)

shoot red balls against this prospect, going so far as to say that ally with the RN or with the presidential majority, it would be the same thing.

It is simply astounding.

Is this rapprochement still relevant today?

I hope so and the discussions are continuing.

It is not for me to go into the details of the lists, but I remain true to what I said.

These are not political maneuvers, but the search for the general interest for a region and its inhabitants.

Isn't that a snub for you?

Not at all.

Whatever the outcome, I assume.

If my priority is the management of the crisis, I cannot ignore the next elections, because our country needs regions and departments which work well together and with the State.

What has been most revealing is the reaction of a political party within which masks have fallen.

A party that I know all the better since I left it for these same reasons!

In this case, why is Eric Dupond-Moretti not at the head of the regional list in Hauts-de-France?

We have justice priorities with the Keeper of the Seals, and the latter is presenting an extremely important text to Parliament.

However, I heard his wish to get involved.

He is a child from this region, born in an extremely modest environment.

He told me that he wanted to give back to the region what it had given him.

It resonated with me.

Would you like Emmanuel Macron to be a presidential candidate next year?

Of course I wish!

But we are not there yet.

For some, the campaign starts too early.

The President will speak when the time comes.

If I got involved with him, it is because I think he is a great opportunity for our country.

DEBATES IN PARLIAMENT

Three hundred deputies are asking you to find parliamentary time to finish examining the text on the end of life ...

This debate is obviously legitimate, but it is coming late.

The parliamentary calendar is extremely tight.

The government's priority is to complete the vote on the law on bioethics, which includes, in particular, PMA for all.

Before adding more, let's already finish what is part of our commitments.

Is the climate referendum definitely compromised?

We have proposed a strong and unambiguous revision of the Constitution.

To go to the referendum, you need a text that is voted in identical terms by the two assemblies.

If the Senate persists in its desire to revise the ambitions of the text downwards, we will come back to the Citizens' Convention, and to the parliamentary majority to decide what to do next.

Source: leparis

All news articles on 2021-05-13

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