A whole country turned upside down. In March 2020, the French faced the start of the first confinement. A historic moment which upset the habits of all French people, even in the highest spheres of power. After several weeks of confinement, on April 4, 2020, the Prime Minister, Edouard Philippe, decided to strengthen the organization around the management of the health crisis. If the deconfinement is still distant, the right arm of Emmanuel Macron knows it, it must be organized upstream. This is how he contacted Jean Castex to suggest that he participate. A proposal that changed the career of the politician forever, which tells the story of the year that has just passed, in the columns of the magazine Society, Thursday March 11, 2021. "Here we are, we are looking for someone who knows health but who is also able to organize the after"Says Jean Castex, revealing the profile that Edouard Philippe was looking for at the time. If the Prime Minister was not lacking in clarity during his speeches, the job description of Jean Castex seems a little fuzzy:"When you are a servant of the State, you are there to serve. But I'm not sure what is expected of me", he admits.
Jean Castex far from his family
Jean Castex accepts without hesitation, despite his doubts. When he announces the news to those close to him, joy gives way to fear. His daughters Léa, Eugénie, Pauline and Lise ask him: "But are you going to die?"He had to quickly find the words to reassure them, before packing his bags for Paris. At the time, the confinement was in full swing and the politician has difficulty considering taking public transport to make the trip to Prades in Paris. This is how he sets off on the highway: "On the A75 motorway, it's impressive, we meet a car every 30 kilometers. It marks me this completely empty highway"he confides, thinking back to the delicate attention his wife had had towards him. Obviously determined to warm his heart and give him courage, she had him. "made a sandwich". The story does not say if it continues to make him since he is in Matignon …
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