A curfew to avoid extinguishing the entire economy
Audio 02:25
Bars and restaurants suffer another setback with the curfew.
REUTERS / Charles Platiau
By: Dominique Baillard Follow
7 min
With the curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., in the Paris area as well as in eight large French metropolises, the economy will take a new shock.
That the state hopes to limit as much as possible.
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Facing the health emergency while minimizing the impact on the economy is the philosophy of these new restrictions.
Clearly the principle is everything except confinement, which has cost the French economy very dearly: 2 to 3% growth per month according to the Banque de France.
The message obviously goes wrong with those sacrificed by the curfew: restaurateurs, cafetiers, managers of theaters or cinema, in shock since the president's announcements.
As in March, special aid is dedicated to these entrepreneurs.
In the affected sectors, partial unemployment will be covered at 100%.
State-backed loans are extended.
Devices already deemed insufficient by Medef, which wants to provide additional support.
And then always with a view to avoiding confinement at all costs, teleworking is welcome, when possible, why not two to three days a week, explained Emmanuel Macron, but no question of paralyzing public services such as private companies.
The French are also invited to go on holiday on All Saints' Day.
The idea here too is to support tourism in regions where it is possible.
The entire Atlantic coast is spared by the curfew.
Limiting outings and social life is to protect yourself from the coronavirus, but it is also to protect your job, insisted the president.
Emmanuel Macron also announced exceptional aid for the most precarious
There will be no general increase in social minima as desired by the CFDT but a one-off boost for active solidarity income.
+150 euros to all beneficiaries, +100 euros per child.
With a maximum increase of 450 euros per household.
Those under 25, particularly affected by the crisis, remain excluded from RSA, but the housing assistance from which they benefit will also be increased.
It is the same system that was put in place in March.
It has benefited 4 million households.
This was not enough to prevent the explosion of poverty.
One in four households say they have lost income due to confinement.
And some have slipped into great poverty.
10 million 300,000 French people now live below the monetary poverty line estimated at 1,000 euros per month.
A million more than a year ago.
This curfew should last a maximum of six weeks, the idea is to act now to preserve the Christmas holidays
This is essential for the morale of the French, but of course also for the economy.
The end-of-year celebrations are a decisive moment for mass distribution, it is the gifts at the foot of the Christmas tree, well-stocked tables and also tourism.
Spending in this sector is estimated at 160 billion euros.
Of which 60 billion spent by foreigners, this year we must not dream, few will want and be able to come to France.
On the other hand, if the sanitary conditions improve, the French will be there, it is vital for all the activities of the services.
IN SHORT
The G20 extends the moratorium on the debt of poor countries by six months
.
About 40 countries have requested it.
These are therefore exempt from reimbursement until June 30.
The funds released must be used to finance the fight against the coronavirus and support the economy.
This parenthesis could be further extended if necessary until December 2021. The G20 is also moving forward on a possible debt restructuring, recognizing that this may be necessary.
In Africa, Zambia is on the brink of default for lack of restructuring agreements.
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