Urban violence: more than 2,500 businesses damaged in France

More than 2,500 businesses were damaged during the violence on the sidelines of recent demonstrations in France, including 1,161 targeted by looting, ransacking or fires, the network of chambers of commerce CCI France indicated on Tuesday, October 27. “2,488 businesses were affected on October 17 and 50 businesses affected on October 24,” according to a report from CCI France, which specifies that “1,161 businesses were seriously damaged (looting, ransacking or fire).” These deteriorations come as the sector has suffered successive crises since 2018, recalled the president of CCI France Alain Di Crescenzo during an online press conference, citing the yellow vest demonstrations, the Covid-19 health crisis, the war in Ukraine, the riots which followed the death of Nahel Merzouk in 2023 and even declining purchasing power.

The consequences are an 80% drop in turnover on Saturdays of demonstrations for city center businesses, in particular due to the fact that consumers avoid these areas due to the demonstrations, according to the CCI France network, which specifies that November and December represent 40% of the annual turnover of local businesses. “We absolutely must revive trade,” said Alain Di Crescenzo. He calls for a ban on demonstrations until the end of year holidays.

Mobilization of the entrepreneurial community

The city of Marseille and its metropolis were even more affected by the violence than Paris and Île-de-France: 527 businesses were affected, including 331 damaged and 128 completely looted, listed Jean-Luc Chauvin, president of the Aix Marseille Provence CCI. An emergency support fund has collected 12 million euros thanks to contributions from the Marseille metropolis, the department, the region and large companies. “There is a real mobilization of the entrepreneurial community, which feels very united and attached to what happened for traders,” welcomed Jean-Luc Chauvin, referring for example to the free provision of utility vans for disaster-stricken businesses.

In the Lyon/Saint-Étienne/Roanne area, the third most affected area after Marseille and Paris, 307 businesses were damaged and the CCI tried to limit the damage by hiring around forty private security agents. “Security is not our mission, it is a first under the leadership of the prefect who was in demand. We put in place a system in record time” which is not intended to be renewed, explained the president of the CCI Philippe Valentin. He estimates that on October 17, around twenty businesses were “saved”.