INTERVIEW
How is deconfinement going to be organized on the territory? While Prime Minister Édouard Philippe is to present the deconfinement plan to the National Assembly on Tuesday, local elected officials are awaiting specific directives, particularly concerning schools. "We are asking the State for a health scoping letter," says Europe 1 Cécile Gallien, vice-president of the Association of Mayors of France.
"The tandem mayor-prefect will have to do the maximum to try to implement all the conditions so that this deconfinement is as successful as possible," she said at the microphone of Wendy Bouchard. But local elected officials also have specific expectations of the executive. "We are asking for flexibility, but also for the State to send us a health scoping letter," explains Cécile Gallien.
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"A huge job that is asked of us"
"We are all responsible, but the State must assume its health responsibilities", continues the elected LREM, mayor of Vorey, in Haute-Loire. "We, the elected officials, we will implement what must be done in terms of disinfection of premises, purchase of masks, soaps for children, etc.". And to continue: "There are a number of things that we will be able to, in light of what will be announced on Tuesday, apply in the most pragmatic and intelligent way possible in our different schools".
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On a possible use of the right of withdrawal by the teachers, Cécile Gallien recalls that the mayors "have nothing to say on this question", the teachers being employed by the Ministry of National Education. As for canteen or household staff, managed by local elected officials, most should respond. "For now, it's pretty good," says Cécile Gallien, who confides the important challenge of setting up return to class for elected officials.
"We have requisitioned all the communal rooms which are previously disinfected, because if we have to divide the class by two, it will be necessary that in the morning, the lessons take place, and that in the afternoon, the students can realize extracurricular activities ", details Cécile Gallien. And to conclude: "It is a huge job that is asked of us".