For the ninth time since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Emmanuel Macron addressed the French during a televised address, Tuesday, November 9. The President of the Republic spoke in particular about the epidemic recovery and the booster dose of the vaccine against Covid-19, which will be mandatory for those over 65 from December 15 “to extend the period of validity” health pass. In addition to the epidemic, he also spoke of his plans for the end of the five-year term, especially on the retirement front. Here is what to remember from the main announcements of the Head of State.
The health pass conditioned on the booster dose for over 65s
It was one of the most anticipated measures. “From December 15, you will need to justify a reminder to extend the validity of your health pass”, said Emmanuel Macron, recalling that one “campaign has been launched since the end of the summer for all over 65 and the most vulnerable”. The head of state now wants to speed it up.
The French currently eligible to receive a third dose of the Covid-19 vaccine are those over 65, caregivers, people who suffer from obesity and victims of comorbidities who were vaccinated more than six months ago. Shortly after the presidential address, the Elysee Palace clarified that this obligation initially only concerned those over 65. The most vulnerable, i.e. people with co-morbidities, are “incited” to receive this booster dose.
According to the latest government data, as of November 7, 3.6 million people have received a booster dose in France, out of the 7.7 million people meeting the current eligibility criteria, or 43% of this population.
A recall campaign launched in December for 50 to 64 year olds
The President of the Republic also announced that a recall campaign specifically targeting the elderly of “50 to 64 years old” was going to be launched “during December” because “83% of people in intensive care are over 50”. Emmanuel Macron clarified that he had “asked the scientific authorities to [lui] indicate in the coming days the practical modalities and the deadlines to follow “.
Reinforced controls of the health pass
Emmanuel Macron also let it be known that “Health pass controls in the establishments concerned and for entry to ports and airports will be further reinforced”. He added that the government would continue “To adapt [ses] decisions territory by territory depending on the epidemic “.
The mask remains at school
The head of state urged the French to “redouble vigilance” in this context of epidemic resumption and specified that “all the relaxations contemplated for a moment will be postponed to keep the rules currently in force”. The mask at school, from 6 years old, “will therefore be maintained for the moment”. In addition, Emmanuel Macron wants the application of barrier gestures to “the object of increased attention”. “We all relaxed a bit and that’s normal”, he noted.
State guaranteed loans extended until June 2022
Bruno Le Maire had announced it on Monday, Emmanuel Macron recalled it in his speech: loans guaranteed by the State (PGE) “will be extended until June 2022”. To be effective, this extension must still be validated by the European Commission. More than 690,000 PGEs have been granted for more than 140 billion euros since the start of the health crisis in March 2020, making it possible to replenish the cash flow of companies in the face of a sudden drop in their activity.
Unemployment benefits suspended for the unemployed who will not be in “active search”
Job seekers will be watched more closely. Emmanuel Macron insisted that “job seekers who do not demonstrate an active job search will have their benefits suspended”. However, he did not specify on what criteria this “active search” would be judged.
The Head of State recalled that he was driving “at this very moment an essential reform of unemployment insurance” and that’“From December 1 of this year, it will be necessary to have worked at least six months in the last two years to be able to be compensated, whereas today the rights to unemployment are opened after four months of work”.
The “conditions are not met” to launch the pension reform
Among the reforms promised by the Head of State in 2017, and suspended because of the health crisis, that of pensions was undoubtedly the most anticipated. In July, Emmanuel Macron announced that this reform would not be put back on track as long as the health situation did not allow it.
“The conditions are not met to relaunch this project today”, he said Tuesday evening, specifying however that “clear decisions” on the retirement front would be taken next year, without knowing whether it would be before the end of his five-year term or in the event of re-election. “Work longer by pushing back the legal age, move towards a fairer system by abolishing special schemes (…), move towards more freedom, allow gradual retirement”, enumerated the President of the Republic.
New nuclear reactors will be built
Emmanuel Macron also announced that France would build new nuclear reactors on its soil. “We will, for the first time in decades, relaunch the construction of nuclear reactors in our country and continue to develop renewable energies”, he said during his televised address.