Paris (AFP)

"The risk of epidemic requires perfect coordination and transparent information: this is what we do," defended Édouard Philippe on Tuesday, challenged by oppositions on the coronavirus, whose epidemic is deemed "at our door" by the health Minister.

The Prime Minister, who spoke during questions to the government in the National Assembly, said he was "available to organize, with all the presidents of political parties and parliamentary groups, a meeting to say very exactly where we are, knowing that the situation will require action as we learn more. "

He responded to a request made to that effect by the first secretary of the Socialist Party, the deputy Olivier Faure.

He also indicated that he wrote to "all of the mayors of France, to the presidents of the departmental councils and regional councils" to specify to them the measures taken and the state of knowledge regarding the coronavirus.

Other opposition politicians worried on Tuesday about France's possible lack of preparation for the arrival of the coronavirus epidemic in the country.

Marine Le Pen notably called again Tuesday for border controls. "The French are not children, you have to tell them the truth. Not telling them the truth is actually aggravating the people's sense of danger", accused the president of the National Rally during a visit to the agricultural centre.

The Minister of Health Olivier Véran, questioned on BFMTV on these statements by the head of the RN, replied by saying that "the controversies are futile, I even tend to think that they are not worthy at a time when health professionals (...) are extremely mobilized to avoid contamination and to prevent people from getting sick ".

"What interests us is the safety of the French, it is not the gossip of Ms. Le Pen," he added. The minister, who had already explained earlier that France "does not close the borders because it would not make sense", stressed after a meeting with his European counterparts in Rome that this position was officially shared by the other countries bordering Italy.

Mr. Véran had previously assured that the coronavirus epidemic was "on our doorstep", while repeating that there were "no longer any patients in circulation in France today".

- No sick in France -

Éric Ciotti, LR deputy for the Alpes-Maritimes, for his part questioned "a delay in lighting on the part of the health authorities" after the development of the epidemic in Italy.

"Our knowledge necessarily evolves as the days go by, and we obviously have to be reactive to this problem and take the necessary decisions as we go along," replied Edouard indirectly. Philippe.

In Paris, another controversy also erupted: "We have not had communication of a global plan on the pandemic risk", regretted the first deputy of the mayor PS of Anne Hidalgo, Emmanuel Grégoire, according to whom "he is time for the state to take control. "

Anne Hidalgo was also offended by the statements of Agnès Buzyn, ex-Minister of Health who became an LREM candidate in Paris, who said on Monday that his former ministry had "had no contact with the town hall of Paris" to anticipate a possible epidemic.

"I find these words so irresponsible on the part of the former Minister of Health that my arms almost fall to me," reacted Anne Hidalgo Tuesday on Europe 1, brandishing a letter addressed to the ministry and the response written by Agnes. Buzyn.

In this letter dated February 12, Ms. Buzyn welcomed the fact that the "precautionary principle proposal" formulated by the mayor of Paris was "in line" with the ministerial recommendations.

© 2020 AFP