A panicked French minister made a very relatable mistake ahead of the Bastille Day celebrations in Paris.
French Minister Delegate for Industry Agnès Pannier-Runacher, 46, was attending a ceremony on the Place de la Concorde to mark France’s national Day. However, the politician panicked when she realised she had left her face mask in her car.
In an amusing moment that was caught live by French informational channel BFMTV, the politician could be seen running after her car before signaling to her colleagues that she did not have a mask.
Thankfully, members of staff had planned for such an eventuality and were able to swiftly hand her a spare.
Wearing a mask was mandatory for all people taking part in Bastille Day celebrations in Paris, which limited the number of attendees in line with coronavirus precautions.
French Minister Delegate for Industry Agnès Pannier-Runacher, 46, was attending a ceremony in Paris to mark France’s national Day. However, the politician panicked when she realised she had left her face mask in her car
The minister was struck by panic moments before the Bastille Day ceremony was due to start. Masks were mandatory during the event
BFMTV was covering the preparations of the ceremony and had one camera on the Place de La Concorde, where cars were dropping off ministers.
As she exited her car, a bare face Agnès Pannier-Runacher could be seen smiling. But her smile was soon replaced by a panicked expression when she realised she had left her face mask in the car.
The politician tried to catch up with her car, waving at the driver, however, after it drove off, she alerted members of staff around her that she did not have a mask.
Hiding her face in panic and embarrassment, she could be seen signaling with her hands that she had forgotten mask.
Eventually, an aide rushed to the minister and handed her a spare face mask right before the ceremony was due to start
The minister was smiling when she was dropped off at the ceremony but soon realised she had forgotten her mask in the car
Thankfully, a member of staff swiftly came to her and handed her a white mask, which she quickly put on.
Ministers were dropped off by car on the Place de la Concorde where the ceremony was due to take place.
Agnès Pannier-Runacher, who is one of President Emmanuel Macron’s earliest supported has been a member of the his government since 2018.
Agnès Pannier-Runacher signaled to other attendees that she had forgotten her mask, as ministers arrived at the Bastille Day ceremony
She was recently appointed Delegate Minister for Industry after working as the Secretary of State for Economy and Finance, still under Minister Bruno Le Maire.
The traditional military parade on the Champs-Elysees was replaced with a smaller ceremony which was not open to the public, but broadcast on TV.
The parade paid homage to the military and civilian forces who stepped up during the healthy crisis.
2,500 guests took part, including 1,500 keyworkers, from medical staff to the families of medical staff who died of Covic-19, teachers, cashiers, police officers, firemen and the factory workers who created masks of tests.
The grand fireworks display that usually lights up the French capital in the evening will replaced with a digital show the French will be able to enjoy from their home.
In a speech following the parade, President Macron announced that wearing a mask will be mandatory in all closed public spaces and all over France from August 1 in a bid to stop a second wave of the coronavirus.