Energy prices: “We are going back to the Middle Ages, small businesses work at night because the prices are cheaper“ Christophe Chirat

“It’s not human: we created our shops to live decently, not in conditions of slavery“. On our set, Christophe Chirat, restaurateur and member of the collective Les Pendus, denounces the effects of the government’s announcement about the aid measures adopted to offset the consequences of soaring energy prices. Measures which do not materialize and which are insufficient, denounces the small trader, who underlines the harmfulness of the presence of France on the European electricity market. To help small businesses, the state “repeat the covid measures which have been dramatic“ : deferred payment of social contributions: they “will have to be paid in addition to the social charges for the period during which they will be paid“, recalls Mr. Chirat. And to drive the point home: “These are not aids“. Rise in energy prices, increase in the cost of raw materials, high social charges… To compensate for the reduction in margins, these entrepreneurs cannot afford to increase the price of their products either at the risk of seeing their customers, often also in the throes of the purchasing power crisis, turn to supermarkets. For all of these reasons, alongside other restaurateurs and bakers, Christophe Chirat decided to go to Paris this Monday, January 23 to demonstrate. Will their anger and distress have been heard?