Emmanuel Macron presided Wednesday at the Elysee a mobilization meeting to organize the reconstruction of Notre Dame in five years, a performance deemed "achievable" by several stakeholders. "Five years for the reopening of Notre-Dame is quite plausible," said Stephane Bern, project manager on heritage with Emmanuel Macron, after the meeting.
Present at the meeting, Jean-Louis Georgelin, 70, was named in the morning "Sir reconstruction" of the cathedral after the fire on Monday. This former chief of staff of the armies will carry out his mission "with a hand of master", estimated Stéphane Bern. The general "wants an inventory of fixtures within two months, a right of inspection and a representative in all ministries.It must answer in 5 years to the president," he explained.
"There are still points of fragility that must be protected"
"There are still points of fragility that must be protected in the coming days.The Chimera Gallery threatens to collapse on the vault.Statues on the north gable were split by fire and water. But all the works will be evacuated, "said the animator.
The meeting brought together Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, Ministers Bruno Le Maire (Economy), Jean-Yves Le Drian (Foreign Affairs), Christophe Castaner (Interior) and Franck Riester (Culture), the Director General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay , Archbishop Michel Aupetit of Paris, and the President of the National Monuments Center Philippe Bélaval and Valérie Pécresse. Also present, the Senate Speaker Gérard Larcher has also considered "achievable" this goal set the day before by the president. "It's a matter of will" and, as General Georgelin said, "it's a question of not getting lost in colloquia".
"We have decisions to take on the architecture that will return to the President of the Republic," said Valerie Pécresse, president of the Ile-de-France region. The latter indicated that the region would launch, in connection with the Ministry of Labor, "a great plan" for this "prestigious project" to highlight the crafts and training of young people, to mitigate the lack of manpower in these trades.
"Maybe an architectural project" around the arrow
In addition, according to Stéphane Bern, Emmanuel Macron said the question was "open" on how to rebuild the arrow, which collapsed Monday night. "It has been proposed that this is an identical reconstruction, but there may be an architectural project" following the international competition announced by Edouard Philippe. "The arrow has always existed but, when it was degraded, after the Revolution, (architect Eugène) Viollet-le-Duc wanted it much higher", at 93 meters, he continued. "Should we rebuild it like that" of Viollet-le-Duc or in the state that existed before 1793? The question arises, "he added.
The president also did not give his opinion on how to rebuild the framework, between wood, concrete or metal, according to the same source. "There will never be enough agents, the president has recalled," concluded Stéphane Bern, adding that Emmanuel Macron wanted this reconstruction is "a leaven of national unity" and not the object of "vain polemics".