The president of CCI France calls for “a pause” in demonstrations during the “crucial period” of the end of the year for traders

The president of the network of chambers of commerce and industry in France (CCI France) deplored Monday that traders were “not able to work” during the new day of social mobilization on Saturday and called for “a pause” in demonstrations during the “crucial period” at the end of the year.

Despite a “form of relief” after a calmer than expected weekend, Alain Di Crescenzo regretted on Radio Classique “around fifty businesses broken” and “around 80% drop in activity”, a number of traders having “played it safe” by remaining closed after the violence of October 17. “We have traders who are tired, who are disappointed, and we are killing local commerce,” he said, recalling that “40% of turnover occurs between November and December”.

“Every weekend, around 2% of the annual turnover leaves,” he maintained. 630 businesses are still closed out of the 2,201 broken on October 17, according to the CCI France count. “Is it going to reopen? (...) We have to ask ourselves the question because if there are demonstrations every weekend, it is unimaginable that a merchant would repair his store only to be broken the following week.” “That’s why we need to reassure, and that’s why we also need to have a break in these demonstrations,” he said, whether through a “change of course” or a “ban,” “but we need a break.”