Playing by French Rules
By Anne Swardson “They said we were an undisciplined country. But look how we respect these rules, these requirements, that are the most rigorous ever imposed on our people in peacetime.” So spoke President Emmanuel Macron last night as he announced an extension of...
Nature Behind Bars
By Anne Swardson I’ve written before about how sad it makes me to see, in my walks around Paris, posters of the things that will never happen. The movies, the plays, the concerts, the museum exhibitions. I realized the other day that spring flowers are also one of...
The Pharmacy Goes Viral
By Anne Swardson The government of France has recruited an unusual ally in its fight against coronavirus. More than 21,000 of them, in fact. I’m talking about pharmacies. I’d be surprised if there is another country where they play such a key role in everyday life. As...
No You Can’t. Yes You Must
By Anne Swardson More than 160,000 police officers will be deployed across France this weekend. They have a special mission: To keep French people from going on vacation. Vacation seems an odd concept now in a country where, to fight coronavirus, schools are closed,...
Lockdown on the Margins
By Anne Swardson A few days ago, Le Canard Enchainé, an investigative newspaper, revealed what it said was a deliberate government plan to enforce the coronavirus lockdown only lightly in low-income suburban areas. Crime is generally higher there; the Interior...
Wrapped in Worry
By Anne Swardson Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced yesterday that the French coronavirus lockdown would be extended at least two more weeks, until April 15. It was no surprise, but still. It will probably be lengthened further, he said. Perhaps that’s why so...
They Are All Heroes
By Anne Swardson Seeing these bakery employees protect themselves was a reminder of France’s “other” heroes. The biggest ones, of course, are the doctors, nurses, first responders and other health workers, who are truly laying themselves on the line to cure those...