Paris (France) (AFP)

Emmanuel Macron completed the deconfinement earlier than expected by announcing, on Sunday, that all of France, except Guyana and Mayotte, will go "green" on Monday as well as the much-awaited reopening of cafes and restaurants in Ile-de-France.

"Happy with this first victory against the virus", Mr. Macron also said he wished to learn "all the lessons" from the health crisis, ensuring that "our strengths, we will strengthen them, our weaknesses, we will correct them quickly and hard".

"As of tomorrow, the whole territory, with the exception of Mayotte and Guyana where the virus is still actively circulating, (...) will pass into (...) the green zone which will allow in particular a stronger resumption of work and the reopening of cafes and restaurants in Ile-de-France, "said Macron during his fourth solemn address at the Elysée Palace since the start of the coronavirus crisis.

Schools and colleges, but not high schools, will welcome all students from June 22, added the head of state. "From tomorrow in Hexagon as in Overseas, nurseries, schools, colleges are preparing to welcome from June 22 all students in a compulsory manner and according to the normal presence rules," he said.

In retirement homes and accommodation establishments for dependent elderly people (Ehpad), visits will be "authorized" from Monday.

As for the second round of municipal elections, it may well "take place in the municipalities concerned on June 28", he announced, adding that it will however be necessary to "avoid gatherings as much as possible" which will remain "very supervised" because "they are the main opportunity for the spread of the virus".

"We can be proud of what has been done and of our country. Of course, this test also revealed flaws and weaknesses: our dependence on other continents to procure certain products, our cumbersome organization, our inequalities social and territorial. I want us to learn all the lessons from what we have experienced, "said the President of the Republic.

Faced with the coming brutal economic crisis, he ruled out raising taxes to finance expenses linked to the crisis, but warned that he had to "work and produce more".

"Economic, ecological and inclusive reconstruction will be the key to our independence," he said.

The head of state also announced a "massive investment in education, training and jobs for young people", particularly threatened by the economic crisis.

In the aftermath of demonstrations against police violence and racism across France, he promised "new strong decisions for equal opportunities", ensuring that "we will be intractable in the face of racism, anti-Semitism and discrimination ".

Police and gendarmes "deserve the support of the public authorities and the recognition of the Nation", he insisted.

"The Republic will not erase any name or any trace of its history," he added on the subject of monuments linked to colonial history or the slave trade.

© 2020 AFP