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She told BFM television the decision not to
reopen museums, cinemas and theatres next Tuesday as planned
because COVID-19 infection rates are not falling as fast as the
government had hoped was "a true heartbreak".
"But if we had reopened on Dec. 15 and shut down again in
January, that would have killed the cultural sector," she added.
Noting that the government had already provided 7.5 billion
euros in aid to the sector, Bachelot said: "I told (Prime
Minister Jean Castex) that we would need an extra 35 million
euros to help the sector get through the end of the year.
"I know I will get that."
Venues will now reopen in early January, if health conditions
permit.
President Emmanuel Macron had said a lockdown imposed at the end
of October to tackle the pandemic's second wave would be
partially lifted by Dec. 15 if new infections fell to around
5,000 a day. New daily infections were 13,750 on Thursday.
Some cultural figures and institutions expressed anger and
disappointment at the government's decision on Friday.
"It is tough to think that shops, planes, trains and
supermarkets in France can welcome the public but not cinemas or
theatres that have made such efforts to be safe places," French
actor Pierre Niney said on Twitter.
The National Federation of French Cinemas said it was "stunned
by this decision taken at the last moment and with no convincing
justification".
But Oscar-winning film director Claude Lelouch, 83, told BFM TV
on Friday: "Health is key. I want to stay positive but I am very
sad for all my comrades in the film industry."
($1 = 0.8244 euros)
(Reporting by Dominique Vidalon; Editing by Catherine Evans)
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