Olivier Véran, October 24, 2020 in Marseille.

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NICOLAS TUCAT / POOL / AFP

“You are debating topics as our caregivers fight to save lives.

He hadn't accustomed us to such outings.

Olivier Véran lost his calm Tuesday evening in front of the National Assembly, where the deputies had just voted the end of the state of health emergency for December 14.

The government wanted to extend this state of emergency, which allows the government to confine the population or limit its movements, until mid-February, but the majority found itself in the minority when the vote was taken.

"That's the reality, if you don't want to hear it, get out of here!" Asserts @olivierveran, describing young patients currently in intensive care.


> The face to face hardens between the government and the Republicans # PLF2021 #DirectAN #PJLEUS pic.twitter.com/sUMIDr99F4

- LCP (@LCP) November 3, 2020

A "total" shift

The Minister of Health was visiting the same afternoon at the Center hospitalier Sud Francilien in Corbeil-Essonnes (Essonne).

“When I returned to the ministry, there was the parliamentary debate on television.

It was explained to me that MPs were applauding the end of the state of emergency in mid-December and the end of containment at the end of November.

The difference was so total that I decided to come to the hemicycle this evening, ”he explained.

Olivier Véran spoke of his meeting with caregivers "who were already present at for the first wave".

“They told me how they struggled in the months after the first wave to train caregivers to support them in case the epidemic resumed.

If that interests you… ”, continues the minister, who is then cut off by the protests of the deputies.

"For nearly ten minutes, the caregivers explained to us that it took specialization to turn a patient when he is intubated, when he has an acute respiratory distress syndrome."

Véran tells the "reality" of hospitals

"I went into two rooms in Corbeil-Essonnes", continues the minister who recounts seeing a young man of 28 in a coma, another 35 years overweight.

"That's the reality, ladies and gentlemen, if you don't want to hear it get out of here," he loses his temper.

“This is the reality of our hospitals!

You are debating subjects while our caregivers are struggling to save lives, ”cried the minister, to the applause of his camp and the hoots of the opposition.

The government has various means of reversing these contentious votes before the final adoption of the bill, scheduled for Friday.

Back at the Palais-Bourbon, the Minister of Health Olivier Véran shortly after asked for the “reserve of votes” on all the remaining amendments and articles, which postpones the ballots when the government chooses.

The Senate, dominated by the right-wing opposition, had last Friday limited the extension of the state of health emergency to January 31.

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  • Olivier Véran