Paris (AFP)

State of health emergency for two months, broad authorization to legislate by ordinances in particular to help companies and draft amending budget: here are the main measures of the bills approved this weekend by the Parliament against the coronavirus.

DRAFT EMERGENCY LAW

- State of health emergency

On the model of the state of emergency provided for by a law of 1955 and activated after the attacks of 2015, the government plans a new regime of "state of health emergency".

It may be declared on all or part of the territory "in the event of a health disaster, in particular an epidemic involving by its nature and gravity, the health of the population".

A specific device for the coronavirus provides that the state of health emergency is "declared for a period of two months" from the entry into force of the law. Its extension beyond may only be authorized by law.

The new regime provides for measures restricting the freedom to come and go, assembly and business.

- Violation of the confinement rules will be punished with a fine of 135 euros, 1,500 euros in the event of recidivism "within 15 days" and in the case of "four violations within 30 days", the offense will be "punished by 3,700 EUR fine and up to six months in prison ".

- Municipal police and agents of the city of Paris will be able to note the infringements of the restrictions of displacements

- The National Assembly and the Senate will be informed "without delay" of the measures taken during this state of emergency

- Economic measures and adaptation to the epidemic

The government is empowered to take a series of measures by ordinance to support businesses and "limit cessation of activity" and layoffs, including:

- measures to "support the treasury", "direct or indirect aid" and "facilitation of recourse to partial activity"

- possible derogations in terms of working hours for certain companies in "particularly necessary" sectors.

- subject to a company or branch agreement, an employer may impose a week of paid leave on an employee during confinement

- possibility of "deferring or spreading the payment of rents" or certain invoices (water, electricity ...) for very small businesses "whose activity is affected by the spread of the epidemic"

- temporary suspension of the waiting day in the event of sick leave for the duration of the state of health emergency

- adaptation of the rules for filing and processing administrative declarations

- Electoral provisions

The second round of municipal elections is postponed "at the latest in June". The date will be fixed by decree in the Council of Ministers, taken on May 27 at the latest if the health situation allows. The candidacy declarations will be submitted at the latest on the Tuesday following the publication of the decree.

- No later than May 23, a government report on the state of the epidemic and health risks will be submitted to Parliament, based on an analysis by the committee of scientists set up by the text.

If a second round cannot be held in June, return to square one, with two ballots held. For the candidates elected in the first round, the result is however final.

- Postponement of meetings of municipal councils elected in the first round to appoint mayors.

- Various measures

- extended validity of six months for residence permits for legally resident foreigners

- remote intervention of a lawyer, for example for the extension of police custody

- adjustment of certain rules relating to prison terms (assignment, end of sentence, etc.) to prevent the spread of the virus

- "exceptional and temporary" extension of the number of children cared for by a childminder

- adaptation in terms of opening or extending benefits paid to people with disabilities, poverty, in particular recipients of minimum benefits and social benefits, and the elderly

- possibility for communities to derogate for 2020 from the rule of control of public accounts limiting the increase in their operating expenses to 1.2% per year

CORRECTIVE FINANCING LAW

It anticipates a heavy impact of the coronavirus on the French economy, with a recession of 1% of GDP and a public deficit of 3.9% of GDP in 2020.

Combined with the emergency bill, the text provides an immediate arsenal of 45 billion euros to help companies in difficulty and finance the partial unemployment of employees.

© 2020 AFP