Paris (AFP)

In the name of "fairness" and health security, the government could decide to close the "non-essential" shelves of supermarkets, from culture to toys and household appliances, rather than allowing small businesses. to reopen as requested by entrepreneurs and elected officials.

The Prime Minister is the guest on Sunday evening of the 8 p.m. newspaper of TF1 and could arbitrate this question, while the controversy mounts over the closure of small businesses during confinement.

Jean Castex spoke by videoconference with professional federations as well as associations of local traders.

These shelf closings could be accompanied by a hardening of the "gauges" of customers in supermarkets, according to Bruno Le Maire, that is to say the number of people admitted at the same time.

- Christmas for Amazon?

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Hard hit in the spring, many traders entered with apprehension into this second confinement, despite an easing that allows them to organize the withdrawal of orders in stores and deliveries.

They fear in particular to miss the Christmas period, for the benefit of online commerce and supermarkets.

The anger of booksellers had crystallized in particular on Friday around Fnac, which continued to sell books on Friday, before the group closed its shelves on its own for two weeks.

And that the government does not extend this closure Friday evening to all the book and culture departments of supermarkets and specialized food.

But many booksellers still demand to stay open: some have decided to defy the ban, others have mobilized to appeal to President Macron, with the support of many personalities.

The Confederation of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (CPME) on Sunday welcomed the closure of shelves mentioned by the government which "could, in the short term, restore equity with local commerce".

But above all, she calls for "the possibility, depending on the health context, of reopening shops" locally, by prefectural decision.

- Jobs at stake -

Mayors (in Perpignan, Brive, Beaune, etc.) have for their part taken decrees authorizing the opening of non-food businesses in their municipality, denouncing the "inequality" of treatment vis-à-vis mass distribution and sales. online.

Bruno Le Maire denounced Sunday "this handful of irresponsible mayors who take orders contrary to decisions taken by the State".

These elected officials "think they support traders. In reality, they threaten the health of the French," said the minister.

More than fifty mayors and presidents of large conurbations (Paris, Nantes, Toulouse, Nice, Grenoble) also asked Jean Castex on Saturday to "work quickly on a solution" for businesses.

The mayor (PS) of Bourg-en-Bresse has decided for his part to close on Saturday by decree the shelves of clothing or household appliances of supermarkets in his town.

For the FO distribution union, on the contrary, these shelves must remain open.

"In the event of closure, only the giants of online sales like Amazon would benefit," especially at Christmas, said the union in a statement.

"Tens of thousands of jobs are at stake."

Bruno Le Maire said Sunday that the government could decide by November 12 to "reopen a number of shops if the health situation allows".

In the meantime, the proceeds from sales withdrawn from "click & collect" traders will "not enter into the calculation of the solidarity fund," said the minister.

This fund provides for compensation of up to 10,000 euros per month for small businesses closed by administrative decision.

© 2020 AFP