Anti coronavirus kits for municipalities. – M.Libert / 20 Minutes
“The first ballot will take place tomorrow [dimanche] “Repeated the Elysee Palace late Saturday evening. Regional presidents and elected officials of all stripes demanded a postponement municipal elections, whose first round is scheduled for Sunday, due to the spread of coronavirus.
The presidents of six regions – Xavier Bertrand (Hauts de France), Valérie Pécresse (Ile-de-France), Carole Delga (Occitanie), Renaud Muselier (PACA), Gilles Simeoni (Corsica) and Hervé Morin (Normandy) – called a postponement of the poll, in the wake of the new containment measures announced by Edouard Philippe on Saturday evening.
Total misunderstanding of the country: given the gravity of the decisions taken this evening, how to maintain the vote in municipal elections? I ask the government to take responsibility and protect the French.
– Valérie Pécresse (@vpecresse) March 14, 2020
“It was legitimate to maintain the democratic spirit of our Nation! But tonight, faced with the facts, it becomes reasonable, consistent and even necessary to postpone the municipal election. It will have to stand once the epidemic is defeated collectively, “Renaud Muselier, president of the association of regions of France, wrote on Twitter.
“Our mandates are worth less than the health of our fellow citizens”
The outgoing mayor of Montpellier (DVG) Philippe Saurel, the first vice-president of the Senate (LR) Philippe Dallier, the European deputy (PS / Place Publique) or even the deputy (LFI) Eric Coquerel have in turn made their doubts known or objections to the holding of the poll.
After the announcements by @EPhilippePM I definitely do not understand that the municipal elections are not postponed. To say that the French are not sufficiently aware of the danger and at the same time increase the risk of spread is a mistake #coronavirus
– Eric Coquerel (@ericcoquerel) March 14, 2020
“Our mandates are worth less than the health of our fellow citizens. The position is not tenable, “said the mayor (DVD) of Reims, Arnaud Robinet, close to Edouard Philippe, saying he expected” a response from the government in the evening “. “Let us not add to the health crisis and the economic crisis a democratic crisis”, implores the LR candidate in Lille Marc-Philippe Daubresse.
For its part, the Socialist Party considered that the “erratic management” of the coronavirus crisis “creates the conditions for questioning the democratic meeting to be held tomorrow”. “Philippe’s latest announcements pose a risk to participation and therefore to the fairness of the ballot,” said EELV national secretary Julien Bayou to AFP.
“Safe for the French”
But late Saturday evening, the Elysee Palace held its line by affirming, in accordance with what Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday evening, that “the first round of the poll will take place tomorrow”. “The President made his decision on Thursday after consulting all political leaders and after having been assured by the scientific committee that this election could take place without risk for the French. Protecting the French and maintaining the unity of the country were the two principles that guided its action, “said the Elysee.
“These are the same people who asked for maintenance at all costs on Thursday, sometimes in a threatening tone, who are now asking for cancellation the day before … You have to be serious, if not to be consistent”, was further annoyed someone close to the president.