France lockdown: Macron's leadership questioned as cases surge -'Country needs to be led!'

Earlier this week, more than 5,000 people in France were in intensive care as more than 4.6 million people have tested positive for the virus with the death toll surpassing 95,000. Now, the French premiere is facing a presidential crisis as he comes under fire for his handling of the pandemic.

This week, the French President blamed the British variant for creating "a pandemic within a pandemic" and warned the situation in France is "accelerating" while announcing the third lockdown.

However, opposition MPs hit back at Mr Macron accusing him of Napoleonic arrogance.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon, of the left-wing Unbowed France party, said: "It really is April 1 today.

"Everything has already been decided and we are invited to come and acclaim... the presidential monarch, the best virologist in France apparently, and modesty's best friend.

"We will boycott this vote.

"You are responsible before history of a health disaster the likes of which this country has never seen.

"You let the wave rise by aggravating everything."

Over the last week, France has recorded an average of 38,000 new Covid cases marking the highest figure across Europe.

READ MORE: Macron likened to dictator over lockdown U-turn: 'French are fed up!'

Marine Le Pen, National Rally leader, said: "In a situation that is turning into health and economic chaos, the country needs to be led more than ingeniously reassured."

Mr Macron said last night schools will be forced to close as well as non-essential shops.

He said: "We are faced with a new situation.

"We are involved in a race.

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"Propagation of a new variant that was identified by our British neighbours must be dealt with.

"With regards to schools, we've all got to be aware of our responsibilities as far as our youth are concerned.

"We've kept them open since September 2020, but this will now change."

Other EU member states are also on the cusp of a third wave of the virus.

This week, Christian Karagiannidis, the DIVI's scientific head, urged the German government to impose a hard lockdown for two weeks.

He also called for students and teachers to be tested twice a week as around 1,000 more patients were admitted to intensive care since the middle of March.

Figures from the DIVI found 3,680 people were in intensive care on Wednesday.

He said: "If this rate continues, we will reach the regular capacity limit in less than four weeks.

"We are not overexaggerating.

"Our warnings are driven by the figures."