Paris (AFP)
Marine Le Pen on Tuesday demanded of the government "more serious measures" against the coronavirus, denouncing a "total inconsistency" of France in its risk management and calling again 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.
"Is that why they really took the measure of the problem? I don't have the feeling," she added, referring to "testimonies of people returning from Beijing who were asked absolutely nothing "and to whom" a sign stuck in an airport is vaguely indicated ".
"Obviously, now that we are facing an important epidemic in Italy, but not only, in Iran as well (...), we must take measures which are more serious measures", added Mrs Le Pen .
Should border controls be introduced? "Of course, but controls are necessary anyway: the border is in reality an element of protection of the population, whatever the situation," she said, referring to "all the people who cross the border without being at all controlled because they are in an underground situation. "
The Minister of Health Olivier Véran stressed Tuesday that France "does not close the borders because it would not make sense" and that "at this stage, there is no reason (to) consider" .
The European Commission had indicated the day before that it did not immediately wish to reinstate border controls inside the EU, a decision which remains on the initiative of the member states, and which must be "based on an assessment credible risk and scientific evidence ", be" proportionate "and" taken in coordination with others ".
According to Brussels, no country has yet notified the Commission that it has taken such a decision because of the new coronavirus.
© 2020 AFP