LR president of the Paca region, Renaud Muselier, and left-wing mayor of Marseille, Michèle Rubirola, both denounced on Wednesday the drastic health measures affecting the Aix-Marseille metropolis.
And in particular the total closure of bars and restaurants.
President LR of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region and the left mayor of Marseille denounced with "anger" Wednesday the closure of bars and restaurants decided by the government due to the coronavirus, a "collective punishment" decided " unilaterally ".
"This collective punishment is extremely hard for the economy of our territories", wrote in a press release the president of the region, Renaud Muselier, denouncing a "quasi-reconfinement".
He would have preferred a strengthening of controls and administrative closures for unscrupulous establishments on health measures.
"Astonishment" and "anger"
According to him, Marseille has reached "a plateau" with a slightly lower incidence rate over one week (from 228 to 193 per 100,000 people) and a positivity rate which has also declined very slightly from 8.7% to 8, 2%.
The proof, affirms Renaud Muselier, that "the preceding measures are producing their effects".
"I learn with astonishment and anger a decision for which the City of Marseille was not consulted. Nothing in the health situation justifies this announcement", tweeted for his part, the mayor of Marseille, Michèle Rubirola, who is recovering after an operation and in the meantime entrusted the town hall to his first deputy, Benoît Payan.
"The violence of @ olivierveran's announcements towards Marseille is not acceptable. There was no consultation," added Benoît Payan on Twitter.
I learn with astonishment and anger a decision for which the City of Marseille was not consulted.
Nothing in the health situation justifies this announcement.
I do not accept that the Marseillais are victims of political decisions that no one can understand.
- Michèle Rubirola (@MicheleRubirola) September 23, 2020
"No consultation"
On September 11, the Prime Minister asked the prefect of Bouches-du Rhône to take, after discussions with the communities, additional measures to stem the progression of the epidemic in Aix-Marseille, now placed in the maximum alert zone.
In particular, he had decided to ban gatherings of more than 10 people in parks and on beaches and had set the gauge at 1,000 people for major events.
"Concerted" measures reminds Renaud Muselier, in a process of "crisis decentralization".
And 10 days later, the government decided to close the bars and restaurants for 15 days "without any consultation, unilaterally", he regretted.