In the photo, he poses, looking determined, a mug in his hand and in a bomber jacket. “Coffee at our restaurant friends in the Basque Country. We are in regular contact with professionals (…), to support all professions on a case-by-case basis. “ The message posted on the Instagram account of the Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, on December 30 from his vacation spot, is a reflection of the government’s doctrine, at the start of 2022 which looks a little too much like early 2021: vigilance, but no putting the economy under cover.
As the presidential campaign begins, the Omicron surge once again shakes up the strategy of the executive, which has been juggling for almost two years between health and economic imperatives. “The two come together”, assured Olivier Véran in Sunday Newspaper, January 2. It is precisely for “Avoid the destabilization of social and economic life” that the government has decided to alleviate the constraints of isolation, for people vaccinated positive or contact cases, assured the Minister of Health.
During his televised greetings on December 31, Emmanuel Macron wanted to list what he considers to be the economic and social advances of his five-year term: the “Unemployment insurance reform”, the measures of “Purchasing power”, “The increase in the salaries of the most modest civil servants” or “Thermal renovation”. “Never for fifteen years has unemployment been so low”, he insisted.
Will the French retain these positive notes, or will the Omicron wave once again rock the economy and revive the concerns of households and businesses? Monday January 3, Bruno Le Maire was to receive, with the Minister of Labor Elisabeth Borne and his counterpart in charge of tourism, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, representatives of employers’ organizations and economic sectors affected by the latest restrictions: ban on consuming standing in the bars and cafes for three weeks, and to eat and drink in transport, cinemas, theaters and sports venues. Gatherings (except political meetings) are also limited to 2,000 people indoors and 5,000 outdoors. All this against a backdrop of mandatory teleworking three days a week in companies, if the position lends itself to it.
Emergency credits not consumed
For the moment, Bercy sticks to its line of ” case by case “. There is no question of giving the feeling that what appears to be the most virulent – if not the deadliest – wave of the pandemic requires a return to the “Whatever the cost” and massive recourse to public aid. The solidarity fund for businesses died out at the end of September, but the affected sectors can still, subject to a drop in activity, benefit from aid for their fixed costs and short-time working.
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