Renaud Muselier, president of the PACA region, announced on Monday an emergency plan of 227.5 million euros and then a recovery plan, or 1.4 billion euros in total. - J. Witt / SIPA

In economics as in conversation, you have to find the right tone. Renaud Muselier launched a martial tone press conference on Monday afternoon. Despite a naturally submachine gun flow, he finished the latter more calmly, as if to reassure the audience. "We have not solved all our problems with Muriel Pénicaud [Minister of Labor], but we have tried to normalize our relations with her", promises the president of the Provence-Alpes Côte d'Azur region, also president of Regions of France. He also announced the injection of a total of 1.4 billion euros into the economy of his region. This sum will heal the economic wounds caused by the coronavirus health crisis.

This plan, detailed in a hurry by elected official Les Républicains, concerns many sectors; from tourism to construction, from agriculture to transport. Renaud Muselier had just had a productive telephone meeting with the other presidents of the different French regions. Between "these exceptional political animals", the verbal contest was harsh, but effective.

🔴Facing the COVID19 pandemic, the South Region, alongside the State, is launching an Emergency, Solidarity and Recovery Plan to accompany and support the inhabitants of the territory.https: //t.co/cdqCIRirgT

- South Region (@MaRegionSud) March 30, 2020

The testimony of Jean Rottner, president of the Grand-Est regional council, one of the epicenters of the coronavirus epidemic, enabled the other presidents to agree on the essentials and to mandate Renaud Muselier to negotiate the rest with the government. Last Wednesday, it granted companies the possibility of implementing several measures derogating from the Labor Code.

That is not enough, according to Renaud Muselier:

Let us give all the means, all that is necessary. The first line, that of caregivers, must not give way. Baker, cashier, farmer, craftsman ... Without those who provide us with food, our society collapses. "

Where to find this money? Renaud Muselier concedes that “the reduction of social deficits has placed too heavy a burden on public hospitals. And paints an alarmist portrait of the economy of the South of France:

  • About 10% of employees are unemployed;
  • industry has "already lost half of its production";
  • the service sector is "dormant";
  • tourism and horticulture are “already devastated. "

The PACA region therefore dedicates specific measures to these sectors: 21 million euros are released to support the transporters of students and travelers, but also to allow the suspension, in April, of the annual Passes of TER subscribers.

Four million approved masks have been ordered by the PACA region, which hopes that they will be delivered this week. Two CREPS (Resource, Expertise and Sports Performance Center) are open to accommodate 190 homeless people, in Aix-en-Provence and Boulouris (Var).

Health homes and industrial relocation

What about after confinement? Renaud Muselier is already talking about the sanctuarization of 35 million euros for the culture sector. According to him, it is necessary to "strengthen support for festivals", "support the most fragile companies and artists" and "strengthen aid for artistic dissemination in our six departments. So much for the short term. Because the region also plans a recovery plan of 1.2 billion euros.

The impressive figure hides various realities. To "support the recovery of companies with an industrial relocation objective", the region intends to inject 17 million euros. They can be supplemented, through the creation of a post-COVID strategic participation fund.

In addition, large amounts are earmarked for town halls and intermunicipal authorities (88 million), for high schools (50 million) or for research and the working conditions of caregivers (100 million). It will be a question of helping the SAMU, via “investments in works or constructions to improve the working conditions of the carers. The region also plans to rethink the care offer, with this objective: that 150 regional health centers will be opened in PACA in 2023.

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  • Containment
  • Muriel Pénicaud
  • Coronavirus
  • Renaud Muselier
  • Nice
  • Marseille
  • Economy
  • Covid 19