France's Le Maire: I want to save
Christmas for shopkeepers
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[November 12, 2020] PARIS
(Reuters) - French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Thursday the
crucial Christmas season for businesses and shopkeepers could be saved,
provided people stick to strict guidelines under the current lockdown to
curb the spread of the coronavirus. |
Bruno Le Maire, French Minister of the Economy, Finance, and Recovery,
wearing a protective face mask, leaves following the weekly cabinet
meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, October 28, 2020.
REUTERS/Charles Platiau |
"What I wish is that we can save December for retailers... What
will dictate the decision of the prime minister and of the
president is the protection of the safety of the French
population," Le Maire told BFM Business radio.
"We could have a dynamic December" if the population sticks to
current guidelines, he added.
On Wednesday Marc Fesneau, Junior Minister of Relations with
Parliament said France was not yet prepared to let shops selling
"non-essential" goods reopen as efforts to curb the spread of
COVID-19 must be upheld.
An update on the rules for these businesses is expected later on
Thursday, when Prime Minister Jean Castex holds a news
conference regarding the COVID-19 situation in France, almost
two weeks into a new national lockdown.
Le Maire however insisted on Thursday that "nothing had yet been
decided". These decisions would be taken at a French Cabinet
ministerial meeting this morning.
He said he would propose at the Cabinet meeting further aid to
small and medium-sized businesses hit by the current lockdown in
the form of rental payment relief and tax credits.
"Excess inventories is also a major issue. We must also help on
inventories," Le Maire said
(Reporting by Dominique Vidalon; Editing by Toby Chopram,
William Maclean)
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