THE ESSENTIAL
Edouard Philippe is on all fronts. After responding to a fire fed by questions from deputies on Wednesday, the Prime Minister engaged in a long educational exercise on TF1, Thursday evening, on the management of the coronavirus crisis by the government. He announced in particular that he favors the continuous assessment track for the baccalaureate, believing that the tests cannot take place "under normal conditions".
Edouard Philippe also returned to the criticisms leveled against the government in recent days, whether on the lack of resources for hospitals or the shortage of masks. Europe 1 summarizes what you had to remember from the Prime Minister's interview.
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The assumption of continuous monitoring for the bac is now preferred
Prime Minister's main announcement: the government is now clearly leaning towards continuous supervision for the baccalaureate. "The bac cannot take place under normal conditions. The bac exams cannot take place in June or in July. It will be on the basis of the most complete continuous assessment base yourself, "said the head of government, although no decision has yet been taken.
"If the courses can resume in good conditions during the month of May or the month of June, it could be a complete continuous check, or we can hope to combine with this continuous check a test organized at the end of June. This is what I asked the Minister of National Education to instruct. I, for my part, believe in the continuous monitoring track. "
A gradual deconfinement "is almost acquired"
Edouard Philippe reiterated, as Wednesday before the deputies, that the deconfinement should be done in a graduated way. "What is almost acquired, is that this deconfinement can only be done gradually. We will have to do it to avoid that three weeks, a month after we are hit by a new wave."
"The logic of containment must prevail, until April 15, and probably for longer," also repeated the Prime Minister, who appealed to the French to "strictly respect" the containment measures, a few days before the holidays spring school.
"The virus is not on vacation, confinement is not going elsewhere in France. If our fellow citizens do that, they will spread the virus and we will find ourselves in an even more difficult situation," he insisted. .
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"Our hospital system is holding up", soon 86 additional beds in Créteil
The government must face in recent days harsh criticism of the lack of resources in hospitals. "I do not hide the difficulties. I have a lot of lucidity about what caregivers are going through, which is terrible. But I also have deep inside myself a lot of hope. Our hospital system is holding up, and it will continue to grow. hold on, "assured Edouard Philippe.
The Prime Minister also announced the availability in mid-April of 86 additional beds at the Henri Mondor hospital in Créteil, on the outskirts of Paris, in order to relieve hospitals in Ile-de-France, faced with an influx of patients.
He also reiterated that it will be necessary to "draw the consequences of this epidemic" to "give the hospital the means to rebuild itself".
On the defensive on masks
Another controversy of the moment: the shortage of masks, especially for nursing staff. "We have been criticized a lot for having said that the wearing of masks in the population was not necessary and I am perfectly aware of all the controversies that have been raised," admitted the Prime Minister.
"I would like to say I am not a doctor and I am attentive to what the doctors say when they all say the same thing. The executive director of the WHO emergency programs who is a doctor continues to say that the port mask in the general population is not necessarily a good idea. ", he put forward to defend government policy.
"Very strong tensions" on certain drugs
Edouard Philippe also recognized "very strong tensions" on certain drugs necessary for resuscitation and intensive care services, due to an "incredible" demand in the world.
"Around the world and at the same time, the consumption of products necessary for resuscitation, whether drugs or consumables related to resuscitation, (like) the respirator tips, explodes in proportions never imagined," said the Prime Minister, quantifying the rise in this global demand to nearly 2,000%.
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The trail of a fall election in the fall
The executive now clearly plans to postpone the second round of municipal elections in the fall, "in October" or even "after". "The decision whether or not to organize the second round on June 21 will be taken on May 23, following a report which will make it possible to say at that time whether it is possible to organize it" at this date, detailed the Prime Minister.
"It is not the Prime Minister who will make the decision, it is the Parliament since it will require a law to organize things". Such a decision, which will require a repeat of the first round where the candidates were not elected on the first, could involve postponing also the senatorial elections scheduled for September.
"The health crisis will become economic", no tax increase
Edouard Philippe ended by evoking the economic situation, predicting that "the health crisis will become economic". The Prime Minister ruled out raising taxes, saying it would be "the worst thing".
"We will have to help the country get through the crisis and then restart. We must organize ourselves so that the country holds up, businesses survive, and then after the crisis a national, European or even global recovery plan can allow the restart of the economy. 'world economy,' he said.
"Money is no more magic today than it was two years ago. We will collectively rely on the State to borrow and get through the crisis. (...) At the moment we are is fighting to keep businesses alive, to make it possible to restart. "