Sunday in Paris: Shop 'Til You Drop?
Let the protests begin. Once a day dedicated to family, church, and la promenade, new laws are handing Sundays over to the tourists. Anyone new to the city has experienced the disappointment of heading out to shop on Sunday, only to find the the doors locked. Though this may be end up being favorable for your bank account, it is cause for much turmoil here in France. Though many support the modernization of these old laws, an equal amount fear that a quirky personality trait of France’s major cities is being stripped away. The recent news has created a great divide, especially here in Paris.
The century-old trading laws of France have prevented commercial shops from opening on Sundays, but have been slowly changing over the last decade. It began with former President Nicolas Sarkozy, who pushed for a change when he was caught in an embarrassing situation of having no stores open for U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama and her daughters to shop on a Sunday. After this incident, the laws were first adjusted, allowing stores to open their doors 12 Sundays every year rather than five.
Last week, the plot thickened after France's Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron managed to pass his “growth and activity” bill. The result is that 12 "international tourist zones", decided on by Macron, will now be allowed to open until midnight on weekdays and open every Sunday. He feels it is, “time for France to enter the modern world.”
However, other members of the Socialist Party are not convinced. The strongest opposer is Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, who sees these new laws as being poorly thought out. According to The Guardian, Mayor Hidalgo wrote to Emmanuel Macron last month, stating, "The zones you plan to set up reflect an unrealistic view of the city, wholly given over to consumer-oriented tourism.” Macron, on the other hand, believes that the extra hours each week will culminate in an economic revival.
Not only do I strongly doubt that the added time will greatly improve France’s unemployment rates and budget deficit, I can’t help but feeling that France’s unique traditions are being sacrificed. Mayor Hidalgo seems to agree, and is not backing down. She continues to outwardly oppose Macron’s consumer-oriented agenda. While the country waits to see how it ends, just remember, Earth will keep spinning even if you wait until Monday to buy your new jeans.
(Photo: CGT)
