In a provision unprecedented, the ministers and secretaries of State were all separated by one meter distance, without a mask, for the traditional photo.
They were 44 to pose in the gardens of the Elysée : the traditional “family photo” of the new government Castex – 43 members, plus the president and Emmanuel Macron – has been conducted this Wednesday morning at good distance, Covid-19 requires.
instead of the usual cluster gathered on the front steps of the Palace, the shots taken at the end of the last Council of ministers before the summer break show a provision unique to this government-supplied, with 30 ministers and 12 secretaries of State. All separated by a distance of one metre, without a mask.
The note of humor Castex
A first row comprising the Prime minister, Jean Castex, Barbara Pompili, and Jean-Yves Le Drian, Bruno Le Maire, or Gérald Darmanin is aligned on the lawn. Behind them three other ranks of ministers and secretaries of State are installed on bleachers placed on the grass, with Emmanuel Macron on the second row in the middle of the group, and the large trees in the park as background scenery.
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On leaving the Elysée palace by the court of honor, in front of the photoreporters, for the first time all the members of the government were hidden, as if to give the example so that the epidemic remains threatening in France. The secretary of State for people with disabilities Sophie Cluzel wore a transparent mask, knowing that people with hearing difficulties are embarrassed when they can’t read on the lips of their interlocutor.
And for the little story, Jean Castex came out holding in a hand a folder and a sheet of paper where he had noted with humor, “you won’t take me a second time, nice summer to all of you” – a nod to his gaffe last week, when he had by mistake left to see the photographers a little comment brings to Gabriel Attal. Completing the formation of his government, the Prime minister spoke on a written note, clearly visible, a “bone to pick” to entrust “young Gabriel”.
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Prime minister Jean Castex
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The Council of ministers, which had exceptionally all the secretaries of State, constituted the first meeting at the full of the new government of Jean Castex. Its constitution has been laborious : it took nearly three weeks of waiting to choose secretaries of State, whose names were announced on Sunday evening. For Emmanuel Macron, the redesign aims to renew and strengthen the government team for the last two years of the quinquennium, prior to the presidential election of 2022.
