14 months from a presidential election and Emmanuel Macron's popularity is holding up at 41% according to a Paris Match/Ifop poll. This is higher than his predecessors François Hollande (22% at same period) and Nicolas Sarkozy (31%). 1/5
The poll results suggest Macron's popularity is higher among left-wing voters - 42% and rising - than those on the right - 34% and dropping. He is increasingly popular among ecologists, socialists and even younger hard left France Insoumise supporters. 2/5
Pollsters found the biggest rise in support was declared among 18-24 year olds where Macron's popularity is at 62%, and the under 35s, where it stands at 48%.
However, poll suggests support for Macron on the centre-right collapsing. 3/5
The president's popularity dropped 26 points among Les Républicains last month and has since only risen by 2.
(PM Jean Castex's popularity stable at 39% and showing the same pattern: rising among the -35s, and the left, but dropping among the centre-right.) 4/5
Report says findings are "counter-intuitive" (challenging the idea that with prospect of a run-off with Marine Le Pen in May 2022, Macron is courting the right). If he is, he does not appear to be succeeding, but 14 months is a long time in politics! 5/5 parismatch.com/Actu/Politique…
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French PM Jean Castex is giving his weekly Covid press conference.
"Circulation of virus has accelerated...linked to English variant that represents 60% of contaminations in the country".
Evolution of situation:
Virus has continued to progress, but slower than feared. In last 7 days, 1.4% increase in last week, when it was 14%+ the previous week. "It's clear we're not faced with exponential increase of epidemic".
Reduction in contamination of elderly people -17% in last week, mostly due to the vaccine. "It's obviously a good news". But...
More worrying, health establishments still under strong pressure. 25,156 people still in hospital with the virus. 3,647 in I/c.
Be warned. If sending parcels to/in France avoid #LaPoste's #Collissimo. They rarely if ever deliver directly They claim to have tried, but in fact haven't so there's no 'unable to deliver' slip and it's a mission and a half to track down parcels. Plus they never answer phone.
I've just messaged them and been informed my parcel is at a post office that has been closed since last year!
Apologies, it's #Colissimo. But you all knew who I meant!
So, tonight Emmanuel Macron will tell France what new restrictions are to be introduced. I will be trying, once again, to give you a blow-by-blow account as he speaks. Usual rules apply: please forgive clumsy on the hoof translation.
Macron: "Efforts made were useful but not enough...situation of epidemic. The speed of spread of virus has not bee anticipated. 527 deaths yesterday, 3,000 people in i/c half the national capacity.
"Difference from 1 wave, the whole country is affected...operations are being cancelled. Difficult measures have been taken. Contested but necessary, but they are not enough to combat the second wave.
More depressing Covid-19 figures as we wait to hear what Emmanuel Macron plans to do at 8pm French time. Media reporting a possible 1-month lockdown from Thursday, but as we have discovered in the past, it is best to wait and hear not second guess.
Tonight's Covid-19 figures from France. The government website has updated first this evening, indicating +26,771 new confirmed cases and +257 new deaths, +1,016 new hospitalisations and +166 new i/c admissions.