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France Moves to Open Up Sunday Shopping France Moves to Open Up Sunday Shopping
(about 5 hours later)
Across Europe, there has been an enduring tension between the clamor for seven-day-a-week shopping and stores that close on Sundays in a nod to earlier times of greater religious faith and hard-earned rest for workers. PARIS — Faced with a division in his own Socialist party, President François Hollande forced the heart of his government’s economic agenda through the lower house of Parliament [without a vote] on Tuesday, highlighting the split in France over how to balance traditional worker protections against the need to spur growth.
But in France on Tuesday, the lower house of Parliament is to vote on a contentious new proposal that would offer a victory for President François Hollande’s flagship program of economic liberalization. The draft law includes measures to allow big stores in major tourist areas to open on Sundays and other outlets to offer all-week shopping more frequently. The legislative package, best known for provisions that would allow more stores to open on Sundays, had been contentious since it was proposed. It had initially seemed likely to win the necessary votes from the governing Socialists, despite deep reservations about it from the party's left wing.
Hours before the vote, the fate of the proposal seemed to be hanging in the balance. “At this stage, the law will not be approved,” the prime minister, Manuel Valls, was quoted as telling lawmakers from Mr. Hollande’s Socialist Party, cranking up pressure on rebels within the party to fall into line and endorse the proposed law. But as the scheduled vote approached on Tuesday and back-room discussions intensified, it became clear that the votes for passage might not be there. That, in turn, led Prime Minister Manuel Valls — unwilling to risk defeat — to take the highly unusual step of ramming the legislation through the lower house without a vote, using a constitutional provision that permits sending it directly to the upper house but which exposes the government to a confidence vote.
“There is probably a majority for this draft,” Mr. Valls, a relative moderate in the party, said of the legislation, "but it is uncertain. It is my responsibility, and I will not take any risks."
In the lower house, the National Assembly, opponents of the measures have already introduced a motion for a confidence vote, which will take place in coming days. But it is highly unlikely that they will gather the absolute majority required to topple the government. The legislation would also still have to clear the upper house, the Senate.
The proposals for economic liberalization included measures to allow big stores in major tourist areas to open on Sundays and other outlets to offer all-week shopping more frequently.
The issue’s political sensitivities reflected decades of a debate across Europe about Sunday shopping that has pitted traditionalists against consumers and retailers clamoring for seven-day-a-week shopping.
The changes would herald a cultural shift for French citizens used to high levels of state and labor union protection from the bare-knuckled competition common in Britain and the United States. The changes have also come to be seen as a test of commitment by Mr. Hollande — who is under pressure at home and abroad to do more to jolt the French economy — to make good on his promises to confront entrenched obstacles to faster growth and more jobs.
The package was devised by Emmanuel Macron, a 37-year-old former banker who is now the minister of the economy. Mr. Macron argues that the measures, which he says have provoked death threats against him, would open a major European economy dogged by high unemployment and stagnation.The package was devised by Emmanuel Macron, a 37-year-old former banker who is now the minister of the economy. Mr. Macron argues that the measures, which he says have provoked death threats against him, would open a major European economy dogged by high unemployment and stagnation.
In essence, the passage of the law could herald a fundamental cultural shift for a land long used to high levels of state and labor union protection from the bare-knuckled competition revered in Britain and the United States. The proposal divided lawmakers across party lines, prompting protests on the streets and disgruntlement among professionals opposed to deregulation of their jobs.
The proposal has divided lawmakers across party lines, and it has prompted protests on the streets and disgruntlement among professionals opposed to deregulation of their jobs. For the millions of foreigners who visit Paris every year, wandering between the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre and the many other tourist attractions, the main impact would be to permit stores in designated international tourist zones to open on Sunday until midnight.
For the millions of foreigners who visit Paris every year, wandering between the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre and the many other tourist attractions, the main impact would be to permit the stores in so-called international tourist zones to open every Sunday until midnight. In Paris, that would mean mostly outlets along the Champs-Élysées, from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde; in the St.-Germain area across the Seine; and on Boulevard Haussmann, where most of the capital’s flagship department stores, such as Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, are found.
In Paris, that would mean outlets predominantly along the Champs-Élysées leading from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde, in the St.-Germain area across the Seine, and on Boulevard Haussmann, where most of the capital’s flagship department stores, such as Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, are found. Stores in other areas would be permitted to open as many as 12 times a year on Sunday, compared with the current five. International zones would also be created on the French Riviera, in Cannes and Nice.
Stores in other areas would be permitted to open as many as 12 times a year on Sunday, compared with five times at present. International zones would also be created on the French Riviera in Cannes and in Nice. “Do we want millions and millions of tourists — notably Chinese — who come to the capital to leave us and go and do their shopping in London on a Sunday?” Mr. Valls said in an interview quoted by Agence France-Presse.
“Do we want millions and millions of tourists — notably Chinese — who come to the capital to leave us and go and do their shopping in London on a Sunday?” Prime Minister Mr. Valls said in an interview quoted by Agence France-Presse. But, in a sign of the divisions inspired by the proposed changes, the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, a Socialist, has described them as a “backward step for democracy.”
But, in a sign of the divisions inspired by the proposed changes, the Socialist mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, has described them as a “backward step for democracy,” Agence France-Presse said. Currently, many supermarkets must close by 1 p.m., and most other retail outlets do not open at all on Sunday. In some areas, shoppers cram open-air Sunday-morning markets to stock up on fresh vegetables, fish, cheese and other foods.
Currently, many supermarkets must close by 1 p.m., and most other retail outlets do not open at all on Sunday. In some areas, shoppers cram open-air Sunday morning markets to stock up on fresh vegetables, fish, cheese and other foods. The other measures in the so-called Macron law would introduce more competition for professionals and for white-collar workers, including notaries, bailiffs, court clerks and auctioneers. Long-haul bus lines would be allowed to compete more directly with the French national rail service. And France would sell billions of dollars’ worth of state assets to reduce debt and to invest in the economy.
The other measures in the so-called Macron law would introduce more competition for professionals and for white-collar workers including notaries, bailiffs, court clerks and auctioneers. Long-haul bus lines would be allowed to compete more directly with the French national rail service. And France would sell billions of dollars’ worth of state assets to reduce debt and to invest in the economy.
“Unemployment has not stopped rising for six years, and our priority is to fight it and to create jobs,” Mr. Valls said recently.“Unemployment has not stopped rising for six years, and our priority is to fight it and to create jobs,” Mr. Valls said recently.
He added, “The solution is that we need to enhance our competitiveness.”He added, “The solution is that we need to enhance our competitiveness.”
In Tuesday’s vote, the measures are likely to be opposed by some members of the Socialist Party who regard the changes as overly pro-business.
Equally, though, some lawmakers from the right-wing opposition are expected to vote in favor of the changes. France is also facing a deadline from the European Union to enact changes.
The draft law has already consumed almost 200 hours of parliamentary debate, often late into the night, and prompted more than 1,000 amendments.
“The time for posturing is over,” Mr. Valls said in a radio broadcast on Monday. “Now we must be responsible and adopt a text that is in the general interest of the French people.”
If it is approved by the lower house, the National Assembly, the measure will go to the upper house, the Senate, which may delay approval.