“After” at Bercy.
This Friday, September 18 in the morning, in a large living room with a bay window overlooking the Seine, eight masked faces are sulking the cafes arranged on the large white tablecloth.
Faced with Alain Griset, the Deputy Minister responsible for SMEs, and two members of his cabinet, five representatives of the nightlife are finally hoping for good news.
It must be said that the 1600 nightclubs in France are the only establishments still under administrative closure due to the Covid-19 epidemic.
Without the prospect of reopening, their situation worsens.
“We have professionals in extremely critical situations, who have not received any salary for six months, who can no longer pay the fees for their children's school.
I hope that we will not live tragedies ”, alarms Thierry Fontaine, the president of the night branch of the Union of trades and industries of the hotel trade (UMIH).
At his side, the others nod.
All of them have a painful story to tell ...
They have been meeting for several weeks to try to save their businesses.
After two summer meetings, progress has been made but they seem to have been poorly implemented by the administration.
Target of all the reproaches: article 4 of the decree, which was to make it possible to release certain financial aid, was badly drafted and prevents certain business leaders from touching public funds.
"If that's a problem, I talk to the president"
"It is sometimes possible that the legal writing, even of good will, does not lead to the political objective", regrets Alain Griset, who hastens to pass instructions to his chief of staff, sitting at his side.
At the table, the former taxi driver captures all the attention and talks on an equal footing with the bosses of nightclubs.
He enjoys highlighting his direct access to the Elysee Palace: "If that poses a difficulty in this house
(Editor's note: at the Ministry of the Economy)
, I speak directly to the president and I know his answer.
We put 7 billion for Airbus, 5 billion for Air France, it is not a few thousand euros that will prevent receiving aid.
You manage as you want, anything that bothers, in the next few hours, it must jump!
"
But the participants in the meeting expect quantified commitments.
Aid to cover the fixed costs of night clubs, decided this summer and capped at 15,000 euros per month, is extended until the end of 2020, announces Alain Griset.
Relief of representatives of the night.
But there are still many reasons for concern: the 4,500 to 6,000 euros that will have to be paid for the opinion of the safety commission necessary for the reopening, the energy suppliers who cut off the power at the first unpaid then terminate the contract , the Urssaf knocking on the door, the landlords who are already sending eviction notices, the salaries of managers at zero euros for months ...
"We are going to write everything down, and I will look for arbitrations"
The atmosphere is heavy.
The minister listens, insists that he "understands" the difficulties.
But be careful.
It is still necessary to "discuss with other ministers", to approach Matignon or the Elysee to release funds.
“We will write down everything we said to each other,” he concludes.
And then, I will go and look for arbitrations ”.
But already, he promises to benefit the discos of the recovery plan.
If the owners of establishments want to refresh their premises, the Minister offers them his support so that "tomorrow, the discotheques are modern, green and that they touch the young people in term of communication".
Clearly, nightclubs will be able to benefit from aid for energy renovation, but also from those relating to digitization and digitization.
After more than an hour of discussions, it's time to say hello and collect the smartphones locked up in plastic boxes.
Alain Griset relaxes the atmosphere: "It's been a long time since I no longer go to nightclubs, probably wrongly", he jokes.
The invitations are raining, cordial.
For now, Bercy and the nightclubs still manage to get along.