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Faced with Gabriel Attal, the restaurateurs demand not to be "constantly in the viewfinder"

2020-10-07T19:09:18.880Z


The government spokesperson debated for more than an hour and a half with five restaurant managers in a Parisian establishment.


They came to testify to the "catastrophe" and the "nightmare" they have been living for several months, accentuated by the new measures decided in recent days.

Five restaurateurs, with varied profiles, were invited to debate by the government spokesperson, Gabriel Attal.

All these little people, masked except during the speeches, had an appointment this Wednesday afternoon at Mesturet, a typical bistro located on the Place de la Bourse, in the heart of Paris.

"I have come to report your concerns to the President of the Republic," the young Secretary of State immediately blurted out, taking a seat around the wooden table.

Restaurants have been subject to a very strict health protocol since Tuesday and the passage of Paris and the departments of the inner suburbs on "maximum alert" because of the Covid-19.

Each customer must now remain seated, wear his mask when not consuming and give his contact details on arrival in order to be called back if it is considered a “contact case”.

"The protocol is binding but it constitutes our guarantee to remain open, so we must defend it" underlines Laurent Fréchet, owner of seven establishments including six in Paris.

Don't change the rules anymore

“There must be sanctions, a minority cannot and must not represent the majority of restaurants,” continues the manager, annoyed by the videos of festive evenings that parade, on certain days, on the news channels.

"We are stigmatized as places of contamination", also gets carried away Thierry Bourdoncle, owner of around thirty bistros, restaurants and bars, seated under a sign displaying a braised beef cheek as a daily special.

And to continue: "When we see on BFMTV the images of customers glued tightly dancing, we say to ourselves that it is everywhere the same, but this is obviously not the case.

This feeling of stigma is shared by his colleagues who urge the state not to change the rules anymore

“We need to communicate better!

»Says one of them.

In recent days, many say they have been assaulted by phone calls from customers not knowing if they were open.

“It was an incredible mess.

Sunday evening and Monday, we ourselves did not know in what form we could remain open, ”says Thierry Bourdoncle.

Beside him, Gabriel Attal religiously takes notes in his little notebook.

The tone is calm and pleasant, sometimes lively, but never aggressive.

Restaurant owners have expressed their concern, asking for state aid to deal with the crisis.LP / Valentin Cebron  

The time has come to talk about government aid.

All agree that they "need" the state.

But they want more.

Restaurateur Babette de Rozières, former columnist for “C à vous” and regional advisor (LR) for Île-de-France, suggests lowering VAT.

It is not followed on this point by its neighbors, who recommend instead to further reduce employer and wage charges.

“We have a big concern with the Ursaff.

In theory, I owe 65,000 euros in charges.

I'm told I'm exempt, but it still shows up on my board.

It's anxiety-provoking ”, points out Alain Fontaine, the owner of“ Mesturet ”.

"It's a real sword of Damocles," adds the gastronomic journalist Périco Légasse, responsible for speaking.

Next meeting in two months

Gabriel Attal does not promise dreams.

He himself is "unable to say when the situation will return to normal."

He nevertheless takes care to emphasize that restaurants can be places conducive to contamination, based on an American study (the only one truly known on this subject so far).

"This study concerned 315 people, it is not very serious", replies immediately Laurent Fréchet, also president of the catering branch of the GNI union.

On partial unemployment, which has been extended several times, but supposed to end on December 31, Attal guarantees it: “Obviously, we will not stop it overnight if the epidemic situation remains as it is today.

"

As the waitresses set down plates of cupcakes and other pastries, the time for the conclusion comes.

Everyone has the right to their own little word.

"Whatever the cost, we are standing and we are going to fight," warns Alain Fontaine, while rejoicing to have been "heard".

"We no longer want to be constantly in the viewfinder," proclaims Aurore Bégué, sitting opposite the owner of the place.

Between two souvenir photos taken indoors and then on the sidewalk, Gabriel Attal confides, promising to bring up all these requests: “We did not do all that to let them down now.

"

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An appointment is already set within two months to take stock of the situation again. During the discussion, Thierry Bourdoncle had warned: “It would be heartbreaking but, if it continues like this, I would have no choice but to fire. "

Source: leparis

All business articles on 2020-10-07

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