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Reconfinement: anger is mounting among small traders

2020-10-30T20:06:06.056Z


“Non-essential” businesses, forced to close, denounce “unfair competition” from those who can remain open during the period.


Demonstrations of angry traders, as in Italy, or in Spain ... At a time when France is reconfiguring itself in the face of the worsening of the Covid-19 epidemic, the scenario of a "conflagration in the yellow vests Is now clearly feared at the Elysee Palace, according to our information.

The announcement of the closure of "non-essential" businesses, such as clothing stores, bookstores, florists, neighborhood haberdasheries, hairdressers, is a new blow for professionals condemned to remain closed.

Thursday, October 29 in the evening, they lowered the curtain, without knowing if they will be able to raise it one day.

After being shut down for a month and twenty-five days in the spring, re-containment could be fatal for many of them.

Many cry injustice.

"The consequence of this measure, tell us our members, is the distortion of competition with large-scale distribution, hypermarkets which continue to be able to sell products such as clothing, books, toys" explains Jean-Eudes du Mesnil , number two of the employers' union CPME.

“Christmas represents 70% of turnover for toy stores,” he recalls.

And to point out "the big winners of all this: supermarkets and online commerce".

"In Italy, only the food departments of the mass distribution had the right to remain open", recalls Cédric Ducrocq, president of Diamart Consulting, a strategy consulting firm.

"A Lépine competition for ideas to rebel"

In terms of health too, there is a total lack of understanding.

"The businesses are sacrificed, while they have complied with all barrier measures for six months and no cluster has been detected at home," said Yohann Petiot, the director general of the Alliance du commerce.

“We applied the health protocol to the letter in our establishments.

On the verge of bankruptcy, some independents are trying to organize the response.

“In the field, it's a Lépine competition for ideas to rebel.

Some people are considering not paying VAT and social security contributions ”, asserts Jean-Eudes du Mesnil of CPME, very worried about the situation reported by his secretaries general in the regions.

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Others are trying to rally local elected officials to their cause, such as the mayor of Migennes (Yonne) who has just issued a decree “authorizing the maintenance of the opening of non-food businesses in the city center” of his municipality.

In Ile-de-France, the mayor of Yerres made the same decision.

That of Clichy has just authorized bookstores to open.

Even among the majority, the subject creates a stir.

Several deputies wrote to Prime Minister Jean Castex to “authorize these businesses to reopen their doors in strict compliance with barrier gestures and distancing measures.

"

"The professionals are at their end"

The government is well aware that the subject is explosive.

This Friday, facing the bronca of booksellers, he finally forced Fnac - open because the brand sells computer equipment, essential for teleworking - to close its culture departments for the next fifteen days.

“The professionals are at their wit's end, the base desperate.

Those who say they no longer have anything to lose are preparing to demonstrate, ”says Didier Chenet, president of the GNI (former Synorcat), the national union of hoteliers, restaurateurs, cafetiers and caterers, also at a standstill.

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In Toulouse as in Lyon, invitations to gather are exchanged under the mantle.

According to local CPME lifts, in Brittany as in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, traders are calling for action.

"When they take to the streets, it will be too late," says Jean-Eudes du Mesnil.

This is why we are doing everything to ensure that the government goes further in measures aimed at traders, independents and restaurateurs ”.

And to remind: “They are not entitled to unemployment and, in addition, they have debts to pay!

"

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All have their eyes riveted on the review date set by Emmanuel Macron for in 15 days, depending on the health situation of the country.

Yohann Petiot, from the Alliance du commerce, assures us: “We will do everything by then to convince people that we can open responsibly.

"

Source: leparis

All business articles on 2020-10-30

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