Paris (AFP)

Jean Castex urged his ministers on Saturday to go "to the field" to "hear the requests" and ensure the implementation of government decisions, during a first working seminar.

"I reminded you: I want the ministers to go on the ground to hear the demands of the French, businesses and local elected officials," tweeted the head of government during this meeting in Paris which lasted nearly three hours.

Called by the press when he left on this appointment, he lifted his thumb by launching: "Super!"

It is "a government of 600 days" until the end of the five-year term, reminded Mr. Attal, stressing that "we are in a moment of historic crisis for the country and we cannot wait to act".

"There is a very marked concern by the Prime Minister of the concretization", which must lead "the members of the government to move, to go on the ground, in contact with the French" to "measure the concrete effects of the decisions" , he said.

Mr. Castex also has "a strong concern for dialogue, consultation, with local elected officials, businesses, associations" to "move forward" and "get in the world," reported the spokesman.

The government also had "a fairly long political exchange around the declaration of general policy" that the Prime Minister will make to the National Assembly on Wednesday, after a televised interview with Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday.

It was "important that all members of the government could put forward their ideas," said Attal. One participant reported a "fairly prospective" exchange so that everyone can give their "perception of the terrain".

Castex wants to "work in short circuits", according to this minister.

Asked about a possible increase in the number of ministerial advisers, Mr. Attal did not confirm but noted that for dialogue and concertation, it would be necessary "to have in the teams of ministers interlocutors able to respond and exchange with all the actors who participate in the life of the country ".

"Perhaps it is something that has somewhat lacked previously to have people identified on these subjects," he admitted.

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