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Update

With the Joint Monitoring Committee, has the
Covid-19 crisis generated new relationships
with the executive? Will this method remain?
This Joint Covid-19 Monitoring Committee,
set up by the Sovereign Prince in March 2020,
enables essential consultation between the
government and elected officials. Relations
between our two institutions are currently
effective and take place in mutual respect
and without controversy. It is in this climate
that the Minister of State and I want to work.
These relations are quite simply in accordance
with the spirit of the Constitution. Given the
very evolving nature of this crisis, the National
Council will, nevertheless, continue constantly
to adapt its requests to the government, which
will most likely generate legitimate and even
desirable debates between us. The role of the
National Council is by nature to be a force for
proposals, an elected institution which shares
legislative power with the Sovereign Prince
and which is, therefore, capable of influencing
measures which do not seem to go in the
direction expected by population.

At the level of the National Council, the crisis
accelerated the formation of a national union.
Is this ephemeral, cyclical or will the union
to do so, succeeding in reconciling as much as in health matters, for the supply of medical last until the elections?
possible, with balance and discernment, the equipment and vaccines. In the health field, I wanted, in full agreement with the elected
health imperative and the continuity of economic too, a lot has been done but we must always representatives of the majority, to suggest
activity, as well as that of social and cultural want to do even better for a country of our size that the minority elected representatives work
life. I know that Monégasques and residents and possessing our financial means. You were in a spirit of national unity in the face of this
are aware of their luck, being able to continue talking about evaluation - in this area we need unprecedented crisis. For me, it was about
to attend cultural shows, to move around freely real feedback so that certain delays do not recur. putting the interests of the people above all else,
during the day, including at weekends, and to by overcoming the dividing lines resulting from
be able to have lunch in the restaurants of the How much is this crisis costing Monaco? Are the elections. To this end, I naturally involved
Principality. you worried about public finances and the them in the decision-making of the Assembly by
Reserve Fund? reserving a place for each of the two minorities
A resolution of the National Council asks the In 2020, the crisis will have cost the Monégasque within the Joint Covid-19 Monitoring Committee,
government for autonomy in terms of health. state more than €200 million, including €112 alongside two elected majority officials and
Is this feasible for a small state like Monaco? million in furlough and €35 million in direct myself. National unity remains the rule today,
First of all, it must first be emphasised that aid to economic players, businesses, liberal thanks to the excellent state of mind of my 23
our healthcare system and the Princess Grace professions, traders and craftsmen in the colleagues, who are still mobilised to protect
Hospital have born up well - and better than Principality. Despite this, the state budget the health of the population and support
elsewhere - to the consequences of the Covid-19 had the means to absorb these exceptional economic players and employees. Unanimity is
pandemic. In terms of health management we expenses, thanks to additional revenues, a strength in the face of the crisis, in particular
have, nevertheless, sometimes observed, it must notably linked to real estate VAT. The deficit to ensure that the concerns and expectations
be said and without stigmatising anyone, the has, therefore, been brought under control and of Monégasques and residents are better taken
excessive weight of bureaucracy, of standards public finances are sound. The Reserve Fund into account during this difficult period; and
and of dependence upon other countries. It even grew thanks to financial investments in unity is visible again, whether it be the vote of
is, therefore, undoubtedly necessary to start particular - all this in a year of historic crisis. the recent resolution of the National Council or
thinking about greater autonomy for Monaco There are no signs for concern at this point. my re-election as President of the Assembly.

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