Paris (AFP)

Several opposition leaders, including Yannick Jadot (EELV) and Damien Abad (LR), on Tuesday demanded free distributions of masks in middle and high schools where it will be compulsory for the start of the school year.

The environmental MEP and the boss of LR deputies also regretted the postponement of the recovery plan to next week and denounced the "hesitation waltz" and "inaccuracies" of the government faced with the resumption of the Covid-19 epidemic.

Emmanuel Macron is chairing a defense council on Tuesday on the evolution of the epidemic and the various health protocols put in place.

"It is the role of the Ministry of National Education to ensure a free distribution of masks in schools and colleges, that seems essential and necessary to us", estimated on franceinfo Damien Abad, who, in on the other hand, "is not in favor of the general free admission of masks for the entire French population".

"Schools must have their stocks of masks and when the kids arrive at school, they have a mask issued by the school, college or high school," Yannick Jadot demanded on franceinfo, claiming that the cost be supported by the State and not by local communities.

The compulsory mask in class at the start of the school year for middle school and high school students can be provided on a case-by-case basis free of charge to families "in great difficulty", announced Friday the Minister of National Education Jean-Michel Blanquer while estimating that the masks were part of "back-to-school supplies".

For the former socialist minister Ségolène Royal, interviewed on France 2, "there must be an agreement between the State and the local communities (...) and there must be a sharing of this support of the expense for families ".

"From the moment when masks will be compulsory from the age of 11, it seems to me important that the State ensure the availability of these masks, not only for reasons of social justice but also to guarantee protection of our youth ", pleaded on BFMTV the deputy LREM of Landes Lionel Causse.

"If masks are compulsory at school, they must be free. Because school in our country is free and compulsory," LFI leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon asked on Sunday.

Several elected Communists, including the deputy Sébastien Jumel, made the same request in an open letter addressed to Prime Minister Jean Castex.

© 2020 AFP