Le Puy du Fou has obtained a special exemption to accommodate up to 9,000 people on the evening of August 15. This created a huge controversy on social networks.
Yesterday, Saturday August 15, the Puy du Fou was able to accommodate 9,000 people after having obtained a special exemption for its Cinéscénie show. Currently, any gathering of more than 5,000 people is prohibited in France as the coronavirus epidemic continues to escalate. Prime Minister Jean Castex thus extended this measure to avoid creating new clusters. However, thanks to an exceptional exemption, the Puy du Fou was able to accommodate 9,000 people, separated into three stands of 3,000 seats each.
If the distribution of hydroalcoholic gel and the wearing of a mask were mandatory, this particularly shocked Internet users. There were many messages of incomprehension. "Imagine you have tens of thousands of intermittents who do not work and who earn more their living to not spread the virus, but in Puy du Fou they can bring together 9000 people legally and that is normal. "," I do not understand no we are on the verge of a second wave and we allow this kind of gathering "," The artists who start to speak because the government still cancel the shows and concerts I find that normal too, wait they accept 9K people at the puy du fou but they cancel the tours I think there's a lot of jerk at some point", could we read in particular.
Many elected officials have also expressed their indignation on social networks or on television sets. Sure BFM TV, MEP Aurore Lalucq spoke of a "absolute nonsense"and a decision "totally irresponsible". "It is not reassuring because it is about a close friend of the President of the Republic and that we really have the impression that it is about a privilege", she added. As for the first secretary of the Socialist Party, he spoke of his "great confusion".
Faced with this flood of criticism, the Presidency of the Republic affirms that there is "had no intervention of the Elysee ". Emmanuel Macron would have even been "surprised" by the prefectural decision.
This is not the first time that the Puy du Fou has sparked controversy. Last July, the medieval park received 12,000 people for its night show, not respecting physical distancing. The stands were then also divided into three with Plexiglas plates to be in order.