Macron sounds out French mayors in countdown to lockdown exit

French President Emmanuel Macron is looking at giving local authorities greater autonomy in managing the country's lockdown exit. REUTERS - GONZALO FUENTES

The meeting, which included the Association of Mayors of France (AMF), comes as the government works on its much-anticipated strategy for “deconfinement” – due before the end of the month.

The mayors of Paris, Nice, Cannes, Troyes and several towns in the hard-hit Ile-de-France region surrounding Paris are among those joining the talks, which will also discuss the distribution of masks and screening procedures. The second round of municipal elections is another likely talking point.

Amid uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus’s evolution, France’s executive has stepped up consultations with local authorities who are expected to be given greater control over their handling of the epidemic.

"The management of the crisis will be more and more decentralised and mayors in particular will be at the helm,” the Elysée said ahead of Thursday’s conference.

Emmanuel Macron souhaite un plan de déconfinement avec de grandes règles nationales, mais qui pourrait adapté en fonction des situations locales. Plusieurs pistes sont à l'étude > https://t.co/Y9MZ9Khhon pic.twitter.com/tHjMThzQCE

— Le Parisien (@le_Parisien) April 22, 2020

'Litmus test' ahead of deconfinement

French media reports said the purpose of the meeting was to help Macron “take the temperature” of regional towns by offering hypothetical solutions and soliciting feedback.

The AMF, which represents almost all of France’s mayors, has said questions related to "wearing masks or disinfecting school premises" must be treated as a priority.

French schools have been closed since 16 March and pupils are to return in stages over a three-week period. Under plans announced by the government, no more than 15 students would be allowed in a classroom together.

• France's lockdown saved 60,000 people from Covid-19 'slaughter'

Following a video-conference with the Prime Minister, the President of the Corsican Assembly, Jean-Guy Talamoni, warned the reopening of crèches and schools on 11 May would represent "an unacceptable risk for Corsicans”.

"As far as we are concerned, tests and masks do not guarantee conditions for a safe exit from confinement," Talamoni said.

With the start of France’s lockdown exit less than three weeks away, concrete plans for how the country will reopen remain vague. Separately, the government has declined to comment on media reports that restaurants and cafes may open in mid-June, ahead of the summer holidays.