France: Jean Castex specifies the timetable for deconfinement and responds to critics

Prime Minister Jean Castex during a press conference in Paris, April 22, 2021. AFP - LUDOVIC MARIN

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Only a few more weeks and the calendar is becoming clearer.

Prime Minister Jean Castex gave a long interview this Tuesday in

Le Parisien / Today in France

to present the dates and modalities of French deconfinement.

The head of government also took the opportunity to respond to criticism.

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Deconfinement will be gradual as announced and marked by three major stages: May 19, June 9 and June 30.

On each date, the French confinement will be a little lighter, provided of course that the health situation allows it.

The high incidence threshold of 400 is maintained given the current epidemic dynamics.

However, nothing stands in the way of holding the first stage.

On May 19, therefore, the terraces of bars and restaurants will once again be able to welcome the public.

This will also be the case for all shops, museums, cinemas and theaters.

Students will also be able to return to higher education establishments.

For all these categories, limitations in terms of reception remain in force, however, it will be the half gauge rule which will generally apply. 

On June 9, these conditions will be generally eased: the interior of restaurants and bars will be accessible again.

Finally, on June 30, we relax even more and it will be the resumption for the biggest events such as concerts, or outdoor festivals.

However, a health pass will be required for more than 1,000 people. 

Only the discos still do not have a reopening date.

And for the rest the rules of physical distancing will continue to apply.

Castex optimistic and straight in his boots

In his interview with our colleagues from Le

Parisien,

Jean Castex responded to criticism of the

climate referendum

desired by Emmanuel Macron: he indicates that if the blockage persists in the Senate, the government will return to the Citizen's Convention for the Climate (CCC) and the parliamentary majority to "

 decide what to do next

 ".

Optimistic in the face of covid: " 

We are finally in the process of getting out of this health crisis on a lasting basis 

," trumpets the Prime Minister, for once the bearer of good news.

The head of government right in his boots on the political ground: the

new "military forum"

in

Valeurs Actuelles

 ?

An " 

extreme right-wing forum

 " attacks Jean Castex who doubts the real identity of the signatories who have remained anonymous.

The

stillborn

electoral agreement

with Renaud Muselier in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region?

"Not at all"

 a personal snub, assures Jean Castex who had yet announced it with great fanfare in the press. 

The Prime Minister took the opportunity to settle accounts with his former political family, The Republicans, in his eyes guilty

of

exceptional violence

 ", confusing " 

the RN and the Republic on the move 

".

One year before the presidential election, Jean Castex has set foot in the campaign and continues the media meetings.

It will be on France 2 this Tuesday evening. 

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  • France

  • Confinement

  • Coronavirus

  • Jean Castex