State Denies Requisitioning Air Conditioners Amidst Hospital Shortages and Public Accusations

As France braces for another heatwave, public hospitals are scrambling to acquire air conditioning units to cope with the extreme temperatures. The government has approved the purchase of 30,000 supplementary units for hospitals.

However, the urgency has fueled accusations on social media that the state is emptying retailers' already depleted stocks. Consumers seeking to buy air conditioners have found shelves empty, with some reporting chaotic scenes at stores like Lidl during a recent sale. Online, users claim prefectures have requisitioned all available stock for public hospitals, leaving ordinary citizens unable to purchase units.

One social media post cited a Leroy Merlin employee stating, "Don't bother, the government just requisitioned all the air conditioners!" Another user claimed the same at a different branch of the store.

Despite these claims circulating online, official sources state that the state has not placed any orders for these air conditioning units. The government is reportedly being criticized for its perceived lack of preparedness for the escalating heat.

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Don't bother, the government just requisitioned all the air conditioners!