A presidential visit but no social distancing. Under the eye of smartphones and his protection service, Emmanuel Macron greeted passers-by on Tuesday in Pantin, in Seine-Saint Denis. This proximity between the President of the Republic and these fellow citizens moved and was criticized at a time when, to avoid the spread of the coronavirus, we ask for 1 meter of social distance. Government spokeswoman Sibeth Ndiaye on Wednesday attempted to clear up the emerging controversy.
The president “obviously did not seek to provoke this gathering, he wished to greet the citizens who were in particular at their windows. There were notably young people who came down around him. […] Obviously his vocation is to always respect barrier gestures and he had the opportunity, at that time, to remind those around him, ”said the government spokesperson at the outcome of the Council of Ministers.
. @EmmanuelMacron strolls around twenty meters in the streets of Pantin. And finds himself facing a handful of agglutinated inhabitants @LCI @ TF1LeJT Images JB Alphonse pic.twitter.com/Yqbpgz5Z7I
- Bastien Augey (@AugeyBastien) April 7, 2020Thirty to forty people then gathered around the President
Sibeth Ndiaye also assured that each visit of the president was "organized so as to obviously respect health precautions". However, she ruled out the possibility that the head of state would reduce his trips. The Elysee Palace told AFP that the head of state "would prosecute" them in order to "show its support and recognition to the people mobilized in this fight" against the Covid-19.
After Tuesday visiting a nursing home in Pantin, in which he had removed the mask he wore when entering, Emmanuel Macron greeted at length from below the building of people out on the balconies, according to the journalist of the AFP on site.
While his car was waiting for him, ready to leave for La Courneuve, the president then left on foot in a perpendicular street where many people passed despite the confinement. Thirty to forty people then gathered around the head of state, many photographing him with his smartphone in hand, with cries sometimes of encouragement but also of contestation.
Opponents divert government message
The head of state stayed about five minutes in front of this small group, saying to them with a smile, his hands clasped in an Indian greeting: "I know it's hard but you have to hold on, respect the rules" or again, extending his arm: "you are too close there." The images of this meeting were filmed by LCI and by many Internet users, which prompted many comments on social networks.
Our file on the coronavirus
The National Gathering diverted Wednesday the government message of prevention of the coronavirus, by affirming on Twitter: "do not like Macron: respect a meter of distance with any person, do not cause crowds and stay at home". Its president Marine Le Pen had the day before deemed "dismaying" this gathering.
“Another 1,427 deaths from the Covid-19 today, and Macron is going to make a crowd without masks. But what a puppet! “, Tweeted the Yellow Vest support of Debout la France, Benjamin Cauchy.
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