“It’s a taboo, we have to talk about it”, declares Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol after the announcement of his cancer

“I’m doing well”, begins Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol, mayor of Rouen. “I have absolutely nothing to complain about.“The socialist published a letter this Wednesday to announce that at 47 he is suffering from bladder cancer, diagnosed two years earlier. “I got a lot of heart-warming reactions; even on social networks, which are not always very tender.“

The mayor of Rouen has decided to speak in public to express oneself on “a subject that is taboo“. He explains: “at work, either you are healthy, and supposed to be healthy and high-performing, or you are sick. In this case, you are isolated, because you need to be treated. There is a line between isolation and being benched, or the impression of being benched, which can quickly be crossed, without necessarily bad intentions.“

A taboo too present in the political fieldaccording to Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol. “There is perhaps a sort of misplaced masculinism in wanting all the time to be the leader to whom nothing happens, on whom everything slides, always performing well. But is this true courage? Is this true humanity? I don’t think so.“

A series of actions in the Rouen metropolis

For Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol, this is therefore the opportunity to highlight themes that it considers essential. “We applauded the public hospital a lot. Today not only do we no longer applaud him but we impoverish him”, deplores the mayor. He also wants to talk about the status of caregivers and research. “Are those who embark on these studies valued in France? The answer is no.“

With the Rouen metropolis, the socialist mayor also intends to lead “a whole series of professional kindness actions“to accompany his speech.”Concretely, this means freeing up speech, facilitating the pace and working time. It’s not about forcing people to work. But when you are sick, sometimes, maintaining a link with your colleagues is important, including from a therapeutic point of view.“