2020 in France: Terror attacks, political shakeups and ‘war’ on coronavirus

French President Emmanuel Macron solemnly declared in March that France was at war as it prepared to face the Covid-19 pandemic. RFI takes a look back at 2020, a year of political and social upheaval as France faced a health crisis and a fresh spike in Islamist attacks.

Golden Statues at the Trocadero square near the Eiffel tower wear protective masks during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Paris, France, May 2, 2020. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier THO - Benoit Tessier

Within a week of the World Health Organization declaring Covid-19 a pandemic, Macron said in a televised address that France was “at war” against the new coronavirus, putting the country under lockdown from 17 March.

• Parisians flee the city as France declares war on coronavirus

Extended twice, the lockdown was lifted on 11 May. By that point, France’s official death toll linked to the coronavirus was over 26,000.

People wearing face masks take a selfie at Trocadero square near the Eiffel Tower, as France began a gradual end to a nationwide lockdown due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Paris, France, May 16, 2020. REUTERS - Gonzalo Fuentes

A second wave of infection in autumn saw restrictions reimposed. Another nationwide lockdown came into effect on 30 October and was replaced by an 8pm-6am curfew on 15 December.

• French households prepare subdued Christmas during Covid-19 epidemic, poll shows

At the end of 2020, France counted more than 60,000 deaths of patients affected by the coronavirus.

There was no question of cinemas, theatres or concert halls reopening when France starts a gradual loosening of restrictions after nearly two months of confinement next Monday AFP/File

French lifestyle struck to the core

Health restrictions brought wide-reaching changes to French social life, with shops, bars, restaurants, theatres, museums, schools, universities and places of worship closing their doors for long periods.

• French universities sound alarm over dangers of distance learning

• France’s culture sector protests as theatres, museums remain in lockdown

Massive unemployment, especially in the tourism and hospitality sectors, along with a drastic rise in poverty were direct economic consequences.

• Covid crisis drove poverty to highest level since WWII: French charity

The French adapted to new social phenomena such as working from home and online socialising. New labour laws made online work from home compulsory in many cases.

In 2020 the French went massively online. For a large part of the population, work and social life were carried out behind computer screens at home. (File photo) AFP/Loic Venance

• Why France is struggling to embrace the work-from-home revolution

Generalised testing and the first phase of the national vaccination scheme in December augured a better handling of the pandemic, though many vaccine sceptics remained wary.

• French most distrustful in world about vaccines

Health workers demonstrate on Bastille Day in Paris French health workers attend a demonstration on the Bastille Day in Paris, as part of a nationwide day of actions to urge the French government to improve wages and invest in public hospitals, in the wake of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis, in France, July 14, 2020. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes REUTERS - GONZALO FUENTES

Sextapes, green waves and a government reshuffle

Municipal elections in France this year were wracked with controversy.

In February, Benjamin Griveaux, mayoral candidate for President Macron’s LREM party, dropped out of the race following a smear campaign where sexually explicit videos of him were leaked online.

• Is Griveaux sex tape part of a wider conspiracy?

Benjamin Griveaux dropped out of the race for Paris mayor after sexually explicit videos of his were published online. The woman to whom he sent them says she saved them for her records, but did not approve of their being published. JOEL SAGET / AFP

Agnès Buzyn replaced Griveaux, but not without criticism, as she left her position as health minister in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. Buzyn was replaced by Olivier Véran.

The municipal elections, whose logistics and timing were criticised by many, saw record-level abstention.

• French voters stay home amid Coronavirus shutdown

In Paris, Anne Hidalgo was re-elected mayor of Paris against her two main rivals.

From left to right, Rachida Dati, Anne Hidalgo and Agnès Buzyn at a televised debate in June 2020 before the second round of municipal elections, in which Hidalgo was re-elected mayor of Paris. Thomas SAMSON / AFP

The overall results saw a sharp rise of the Green Party in urban areas and the right-wing Les Républicains in rural districts.

• Green wave as environmentalists win key cities in French local elections

A government reshuffle ensued, with Prime Minister Edouard Philippe replaced by Jean Castex, commonly known as France’s “Mr Confinement” for his frontline role coordinating the first coronavirus lockdown.

Jean Castex, appointed France's prime minister after a government reshuffle in July, is known as France's 'Mr Covid' for role in fighting the pandemic. AP - Martin Bureau

Eric Dupont-Moretti was appointed Justice Minister, a decision criticised by many French magistrates.

• 'The Acquittor' is new justice minister

Budget Minister Gérald Darmanin took over France’s Interior Ministry, a nomination marred with indignation from women’s groups due to rape charges filed against the minister.

• Outraged protesters slam Macron’s choice of interior minister

Later in the year, Darmanin was accused of not doing enough to reprimand police brutality in France, especially after incidents during the violent clearance of a migrant camp, and also an isolated incident where a black music producer was beaten up by a police patrol. 

Charlie Hebdo and the tragic casualties of satire 

France also faced several Islamist terrorist attacks and threats as several young men, often radicalised on social media, perpetrated various attacks on civilians and police officers across the country.

The threat grew with the start the trial for the 2015 Charlie Hebdo attacks, on which occasion the satirical newspaper republished cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed.

• French court hands guilty verdicts to all Charlie Hebdo accomplices

A few days after a knife attack at Charlie Hebdo’s old offices, schoolteacher Samuel Paty was ambushed and beheaded by a young Chechen refugee.

Age of intolerance? Outrage in France after beheading of school teacher

A few days later, a man from Tunisia attacked a church in Nice, killing three worshippers.

Faced with nationwide anger and indignation, Macron took a firm anti-terrorist stance.

• 'We will not give in to terror', says Macron 
• France deploys 7,000 security personnel to schools, religious sites

The government shut down mosques and other Islamic organisations suspected of encouraging radical views.

This led to anti-French protests and boycott of French products in several Muslim-majority countries around the world.

Supporters of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, an Islamist political party protest against the publishing of caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad they deem blasphemous, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. AP - Mahmud Hossain Opu

2021: the year when life becomes 'normal' again?

France began its Covid-19 vaccination campaign in December, following the provisional EU approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

After senior citizens, health professionals and high-risk individuals, the vaccine is expected to be available to France's general population in spring 2021. 

But with new virus strains detected in the UK, it could be a while yet before things get back to normal.