In addition to the security risk, there is also the economic threat. In response to the damage to many businesses throughout France, Bruno Le Maire is asking insurers to lower deductibles and quickly compensate victims. The Minister of the Economy also announces “the postponement of payment of social and tax charges” for the traders affected. “This concerns the whole territory”, and in particular 250 tobacconists, 250 bank branches, 200 mass retail stores, from Aldi to Monoprix, fast food, and a number of small fashion and sporting goods shops, a noted the Minister.
“We have asked insurers to be as simple as possible in handling procedures”, to “reduce deductibles as much as possible” and “compensation must arrive as quickly as possible”, declared Bruno Le Maire, adding that he had also asked the banks for “the greatest understanding in terms of processing the deadlines” of the traders and entrepreneurs affected.
At the same time, the Minister of the Economy calls on traders “affected by acts of vandalism” to make “their declarations of insurance as soon as possible”. Even if the deadlines for declarations should be extended. The sales period should also be extended by one week to allow traders to compensate for the shortfalls suffered. Crisis cells have been reactivated in each department and “we want to provide quick and strong responses”, said the minister, noting that “90 to 95% of traders are covered by claims and damage insurance”.
Statements made in the wake of a meeting between representatives of businesses, restaurants and hotels in Bercy. Alongside Bruno Le Maire and the Minister in charge of Trade Olivia Grégoire were present the spokespersons of insurers and French banks. “The greatest understanding in terms of processing deadlines” of the disaster-stricken traders and entrepreneurs was requested from the bankers.
“It’s real organized looting! Everything is millimeter and formidable executed. Security guards watch while others fill bags before transporting them by scooter to cars located not far away, ”denounces to Figaro Alain Di Crescenzo, the president of CCI France who has just left the meeting in Bercy. “The most affected cities are Paris, Marseille and Lyon,” he explains. Before specifying that “all types of businesses have been affected, with a strong point on clothing stores and sports shoes”. In total, “several thousand” stores have been degraded.
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The network of chambers of commerce and industry plans to set up crisis cells and visit all the traders affected in order to take stock of the situation as quickly as possible. “We are at the side of the traders, we will support them by all means”, reaffirms Alain Di Crescenzo. “Today, it was time for requests and they were heard. The first needs were to increase the deadlines for filing a complaint and making a claim because 24 hours is not enough. Then comes the acceleration of all the support, aid and insurance procedures,” he explains.
