“If I start speaking about the after, I send the opposite message”. This is what Prime Minister Castex stated this Thursday March 18, 2021, as France Info reports. The same day, a press conference is expected to shape the limits of new restrictions decided by the executive in order to curb the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic in France, specifically in the two hardest-hit regions over the past weeks, namely Hauts-de-France and Île-de-France.
If the Prime Minister lingers backstage to tell ministers more about the right communications to collectively adopt at the dawn of the third epidemic wave and tough decisions, it is mostly to keep French’s trust. For the past days, and even weeks, the government has been working hard to gather meetings with trade unions and SMB representatives which sectors are still closed – namely almost all sectors included in the service sector. This Tuesday, a gathering between Ministers of Labor, Tourism and SMB from the sector has been held to think about the reopening of restaurants, including a three-step reopening plan: at the same time the head of government is about to place Île-de-France back into lockdown, after several weeks of waiting, ministers are thinking and acting for the after-crisis.
Yet, the Prime Minister is perfectly aware that time has not come for calming and long-time predictions. Furthermore, after the meetings, trade unions felt very alone when addressing journalists: ministers have been all abstaining. Castex sums communication guidelines up. “French will think we are already in this after”, he states. An advisor supports the chief of majority’s statement. “In each case, we think that if 60% of the people comply with the rules, it is not bad already”, he says to France Info. President Macron now has to give further horizons. Future to the president, present to the Prime Minister… All fans of the 5th Republic might be delighted!
