France wants answers from Macron over virus, jobs and racism

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron is giving an address to his nation Sunday after an unusually long silence, as France faces both exceptional economic blowback from the virus pandemic and rekindled anger over deep-seated racism.

From struggling restaurant owners to worn-out nurses and minorities angry over police brutality, people across France want Macron to address their concerns.

His office says Macron's evening speech will focus mainly on the virus that has plunged France into its worst crisis since World War II: the gradual reopening process, the economic challenges ahead, and “strengths and weaknesses” in his government’s handling of the pandemic.

He's speaking just hours before France reopens its borders with European neighbors, and as Paris restaurants await news on when they can reopen in full.

The president last week ordered an internal audit into how his administration handled the virus — notably compared to other countries like Germany. That’s in addition to a parliamentary inquiry already underway.

Despite having one of the world's best health care systems, France was dangerously short of all kinds of masks and testing capacity as coronavirus patients overwhelmed intensive care wards in March. More than 80 lawsuits have been filed accusing his government of manslaughter, neglect or otherwise mishandling the virus crisis.

Macron sent in the army to help and ordered strict lockdown measures that slowed the spread. But nearly 30,000 people have died, about half of them in nursing homes, and more than 150,000 have been infected. More than 200 new virus clusters have emerged since France started reopening May 11, according to the national health agency.

Meanwhile, his government is facing growing pressure to confront racism and police...