INTERVIEW
The French economy is suffering the brunt of the health crisis. The coronavirus caused the GDP to drop by almost 6% in the first quarter of 2020, the worst quarterly performance since 1945. To support companies in these times of crisis, "insurance must be there", insisted Emmanuel Macron Monday evening, during his televised address.
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"We have been on deck since day one," replies Jacques de Peretti, CEO of Axa France, guest from Europe 1 on Tuesday morning. Stressing in turn the "fundamental" role of insurance in this context of crisis, he announced "strong measures" to come, developed during meetings between French insurers and the public authorities. "We are going to raise, within the profession, 1 billion euros to finance businesses and revive the economy," he said.
A "future diet" to take into account health risk
The fact remains that, according to him, it is impossible for insurers to cover all of the operating losses incurred by the companies, which would already amount to more than 60 billion euros. "If we spend these 60 billion, we will have to wipe off the insurance profession ...", he underlines.
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Today, most insurance contracts have at least two exclusions: the risk of war and that of a pandemic. "Insurance is based on the principle of mutualisation. It is necessary that valiant people can support the injured ...", schematizes Jacques de Peretti, who continues: "If the whole country is at a standstill, it is no longer possible to cope . "
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To better consider the health risk in the future, the CEO of Axa announced floor "within working groups" on a "future regime" including health crises, developed on the model of that covering natural disasters. "Because we know how to face it, since we have the support of the State."