Deconfinement, the time bomb?

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Aerial view of Place de l'Étoile in Paris, deserted during confinement, on April 4. REUTERS / Pascal Rossignol

By: Julien Chavanne

The French government is trying to deal with the coronavirus crisis. But some are already worried about the aftermath and the risk of a return of "yellow vests".

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A minister says " not getting to sleep " when he thinks of " the state of society " at the end of the crisis. His nightmare: a fractured country, even more divided.

The boss of La République en Marche says it differently: Stanislas Guérini fears a " violent conflict " between " France of second homes " and that of " HLM ".

And if we look more closely at confinement, we can find clues to this fracture. A study by the Jean-Jaurès Foundation draws a parallel between the "yellow vests" and the " first in the trench ", that is to say those who work today, despite the fear of illness, in well-functioning hospitals. sure, but also the cashiers, the truckers, the craftsmen, sellers, the garbage collectors. The least qualified and the most economically fragile.

Remember the figures of "yellow vests": Maxime Nicolle, alias Fly Rider, served as driver or mechanic; Ingrid Levavasseur is a nursing assistant…

" First in the trenches " today, and perhaps tomorrow the first victims of the economic crisis?

It is a scenario that runs in the head of a majority official. Confinement creates immense inequalities in the situation, ” underlines this deputy. " At the exit, it will absolutely be necessary to take into account the vulnerable, those who were before the coronavirus, and those who will be after ", because of the recession.

A time bomb that could appear on the street or in the ballot box. Especially since political speech has less and less value. If the population supports Emmanuel Macron, it is difficult to trust him. 77% of French people think, for example, that the government has not told the truth about masks.

How the executive faces mistrust

Each time he speaks, Emmanuel Macron pays tribute to the first and second lines. He promises to protect employees " whatever the cost ".

But the strategy also goes through symbols. The president went to Marseille on Thursday to meet Professor Didier Raoult, one of the particularly popular figures in this crisis. He even became the icon of "yellow vests". By visiting him, Emmanuel Macron also wanted to send a message to his supporters.

In this unprecedented period for the country, social temperature is closely monitored by the authorities. This week, Christophe Castaner, the Minister of the Interior, was worried about " ultra-right and ultra-left networks", which call on social networks " to prepare " actions at the end of confinement.

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  • France
  • Coronavirus
  • French politics
  • Containment
  • Yellow vests