Fires and Eclipse: Crisis and Criticism for the Government

The last Council of Ministers before the summer break was transformed into a crisis meeting because of the fires in Gironde, described as a “megafire” and the approach of the solar eclipse, criticized for its lack of health preparation. President Emmanuel Macron is due to chair a new crisis meeting on the fires on Monday, while the Minister of the Army, Sébastien Lecornu, has decided to send troops as reinforcements. Oppositions strongly criticized the government for its lack of preparation for these events, in particular for the failure to distribute protective glasses for the eclipse, which can cause serious eye damage without adequate protection. These glasses, currently on sale but often out of stock, are essential for observing the phenomenon without risk. Marine Tondelier described the situation as a “public health fiasco”, highlighting the government’s “unpreparedness”.