Édouard Philippe was interviewed on Wednesday by the parliamentary commission of inquiry devoted to the management of the coronavirus crisis.

The former Prime Minister defended his record, but recognized a communication error on the wearing of a mask. 

Highly anticipated, his hearing lasted nearly three hours.

On Wednesday, Édouard Philippe was heard in the National Assembly by the commission of inquiry into the coronavirus epidemic.

The opportunity for the former Prime Minister to defend his management of the health crisis. 

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Édouard Philippe recognized that this virus "surprised us by its nature".

And took refuge behind the scientists who discovered the virus themselves.

At the heart of the debates, a question: that of masks.

On this subject, the current mayor of Le Havre also conceded a communication error.

"I said at a 13h on TF1 that wearing a mask in the general population made no sense. Why did I say it? Because doctors had told me. Today, the doctrine has changed" , explained Édouard Philippe.

"I made mistakes in the communication", concedes @EPhilippe_LH, before adding: "I said that wearing a mask in the general population made no sense. Why did I say it ? Because I had been told, because it was the doctrine ". # DirectAN # Covid19pic.twitter.com / Gd4Fp4tvaQ

- LCP (@LCP) October 21, 2020

The former tenant of Matignon was also questioned about the municipal fiasco.

For him, maintaining the first lap was the least bad decision at the time.

“How do we ensure, on a Saturday evening, that the elections do not take place the next day?” He asked.

"Can you imagine the atmosphere, when there is no political consensus?"

"Confident debates" with Emmanuel Macron

"Going to vote in a democracy is not exactly the same as going for a coffee in a cafe," he said.

And to conclude: "I do not believe that everything is worth." 

In addition, the opposition did not fail to question him also on possible differences with Emmanuel Macron.

No disagreements, he replied, but debates.

"To confine too long, is to cause the collapse of the country. To deconfin too quickly, it is to cause a restart of the epidemic", summarized Édouard Philippe.

Also, "to have confident debates seems obvious to me and a necessity".