Since he replaced Edouard Philippe at the head of the government on July 3, 2020, Jean Castex has not played a good role. It must be said that the former mayor of Prades put his bags in Matignon in the middle of an unprecedented pandemic, an uncontrollable storm. As Prime Minister, of course he bears the heavy responsibility of announcing the new health measures to the French. And the least that can be said is that these are often far from unanimous. Regularly criticized and mocked on social networks, Jean Castex also avoids television shows as much as possible. But he made an exception on Monday, January 18, 2021. The head of government accepted Anne-Elisabeth Lemoine's invitation to the show C to you, broadcast on France 5 at the start of the evening.
“Do you think I'm doing this for fun? ”
On this first day of vaccination for people over 75 (excluding EHPAD), Jean Castex came to answer all the team's questions. Patrick Cohen then evokes the question posed by many personalities, but which is however hardly debated in France: "Do we have to sacrifice the quality of life of millions of people, to save the lives of a few thousand more? ", asks the columnist. The Prime Minister's response is unequivocal. “I must tell you that I always ask myself questions, all the time. The one you are asking, I am not sure I am asking myself in these terms. As a matter of principle, we should never give up saving lives ”, he attests. Of course, Jean Castex does not forget the "psychological damage ” that successive confinements (and the health crisis as a whole) have engendered.
“We can see that the more the months go by, the more people – and me the first – have so far and say to each other 'when are we done?', launches Emmanuel Macron's right arm in front of the cameras. “You the first, have you got that far? ”, surprised Anne-Elisabeth Lemoine. It was then that Jean Castex let go, and confided in his own fed up with the health situation: "Do you doubt that I would rather do something other than tell the French that I am closing theaters, sports halls, restaurants…? Do you think I'm doing this for fun? I'm doing this because it's my duty. My first priority is to ensure the health of my fellow citizens in the face of this crisis ", he finally concludes. Yes, ministers are also eager to return to normal life.
Read also : Coronavirus: When will the situation really improve? Emmanuel Macron and Jean Castex give a horizon