Paris (AFP)

The Association of Mayors of France and Jean Castex agreed on Wednesday to "correct and resume the link" between the State and local elected officials, after a cold snap born of the announcement of new restrictions due to the epidemic, said AMF Chairman François Baroin.

"I am satisfied with the conditions of the exchange that we had with the Prime Minister who agreed that it was necessary to correct and resume this link", indicated Mr. Baroin after an hour of interview in Matignon .

The AMF had requested this meeting "urgently", the association deploring having been "faced with a fait accompli" of the restrictions pronounced last week in the metropolis of Aix-Marseille and in Guadeloupe in particular.

"Since the end of the summer there has (...) certainly been a relaxation on the part of the State, in its local representation as in its public speaking over the past few days, which has affected this spirit of working hand in hand ", he lamented.

"The State cannot consider that the consultation is a phone call half an hour before. The State cannot consider that the joint action is: I make the decision and I inform you of it. ", continued the mayor (LR) of Troyes, welcoming the outcome of the meeting.

Mr. Castex and the AMF decided in particular that regular updates on the health situation between local elected officials, representatives of regional health agencies and prefects would be held in each department.

"We recalled that our vocation was to consult as widely as possible all elected officials when the virus is circulating (...) to discuss together the measures which seem to us the most able to ensure the safety of the French", a underlined at the exit the Minister of Health Olivier Véran.

The latter must hold his weekly press conference at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, which could act as a new turn of the screw depending on the deterioration of health indicators.

In the meantime, several mayors and city presidents will meet with Jean Castex.

After the city councilor of Marseille Michèle Rubirola, who spoke by telephone with the Prime Minister on Wednesday afternoon, Anne Hidalgo (Paris), Martine Aubry (Lille), Grégory Doucet and Bruno Bernard (city and metropolis of Lyon) will visit successively in Matignon Thursday morning.

Eric Piolle (Grenoble) and Jean-Luc Moudenc (Toulouse) must, them, exchange by videoconference with Mr. Castex.

© 2020 AFP