The phone did not stop ringing, Saturday, March 14, in the evening for Francis Palombi, president of the Confederation of Traders of France (CDF), following the announcements of Prime Minister, Edouard Philippe, to close Saturday at midnight all “Places receiving the public not essential to the life of the country” : restaurants, bars, nightclubs, cinemas and shops, with the exception of food stores, pharmacies, banks, tobacconists and petrol stations.
Its members, mainly small businesses, 40% of which have no employees worried. “A cafe owner who had just set up shop with a loan on his back that he could no longer pay; the manager of a shoe chain who wonders if there is an obligation to put everyone on short work … “, says Mr. Palombi. And faced with these legitimate questions, there is unfortunately no definitive answer. And even more questions. “We are particularly frightened by this decision, he says. It happened faster than expected. Some restaurants ask us if they can at least sell take-out food, so as not to die. “
“Traders will blow up a bolt”
If the meeting, scheduled for Monday, March 16 in the morning, between the Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, and the players in trade, tourism and catering is maintained, he will even ask for the establishment of a cell psychological because “There are traders who are going to blow up a bolt. Some were fair in cash, others had just started their business ”. “I will tell them that we cannot get away with reduced measures like for the” yellow vests “or the strike, says Mr. Palombi. It is necessary to postpone the loan maturities, integrate the operating loss into insurance contracts … and compensation from the State, exemptions. “
Same concerns for larger businesses. “Are there insurance systems that will play? Will the administrative closure affect rents? All these questions will have to be clarified. We await the practical details », reports Yohann Petiot, managing director of the Trade Alliance. Because already, faced with the fall in their activity, some businesses had their rent paid monthly, usually payable three months in advance. And others even decided to exempt themselves from it in the fall of their turnover.
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