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Merchants in Thessaloniki, Acaya and Kozani are preparing a “guerrilla” following the government’s decision to suspend the opening of retail in these three areas, just hours before the stores open.
Businesses are preparing to open their store blinds on Monday, despite the ban.
The most indicative of the reactions was that of the Patras Commercial Association, where an extraordinary meeting was held today, during which it was decided to open the stores normally next Monday. At the meeting of the Board of the Chamber of Commerce of Patras also decided a barrage of mobilizations in the following days, starting on Sunday and the visit of the Deputy Minister of the Interior, Stelios Petsas.
In the same vein are the businessmen of Thessaloniki, who took to the streets to protest against the sudden decision of the government.
As the professionals speaking to GRTimes.gr pointed out, right now they are desperate as the hope that they finally had to get up on Mondays, even with strict rules, was suddenly lost, at a time when they had done their best themselves. . necessary preparations such as disinfection and cleaning of their stores, but they had also requested merchandise to serve consumers.
And they in turn stressed that they are determined to open their stores on Monday despite the government’s decision to ban it. “We have all agreed to open all our stores on Monday at any price. The reason is that everything we live in is catastrophic and now we have reached our limits and we cannot take it anymore”, stressed the representative of the professionals in the Municipality of Pavlos Melas and owner of three clothing stores, Ifigenia Tosidou, speaking to GRTimes.
“We were all waiting to open, we have received our merchandise, we have set up our stores, we have done all the necessary actions and they tell us that they will not open. That cannot happen and we will open on Monday ”, he clarified.
How does the government respond?
In any case, they are clear from the government. According to information from MEGA, the Government emphasizes that the law is clear and provides penalties, that is, fines of 3,000 euros for the merchant who opens his store illegally and 300 euros for consumers, who, after all, they will have no excuse to move. .
On the other hand, the government points out that the decision to suspend the opening taken today is only for this week.
Next Wednesday, scientists from our country will meet again, in order to reassess the data and see what can be done next.
The government emphasizes, according to MEGA, that if we follow their recommendations, then we are closer to loosening the commitments even more.
Otherwise, the possibility of tightening the measures, that is, to close stores again throughout Greece, is not ruled out. This was even mentioned by the Minister of Development and Investments, Adonis Georgiadis.
“Outwit the merchants”
We are in a frenzy. We have many reactions from colleagues to this sudden decision, Lagada Trade Association President Stavros Varvaridis told Grtimes, who revealed that Association members plan to hold a protest march in the coming days.
Stores are a smaller source of transmission. We are especially a small market with outstanding characteristics.
The president of Sindos Comerciantes, Theodoros Dimitriadis, also spoke with Grtimes about the high volume of protests he has been receiving from his colleagues since this morning. He recalled that the decision surprised the companies, most of which are family members and have developed a financial plan, which is being annulled.
It’s a joke against traders, you can’t make a decision and undo it right away. We are ready. What can we say to people who want to go out? Demitriadis wondered, noting, however, that Sindos stores will not open despite the ban.
We are in contact with the other associations and the Professional Chamber and we are waiting for the teleconference with the Minister of Public Works Ad. Georgiadis in the teleconference that will take place with the participation of all the associations of Thessaloniki.
The president of the Evosmos Kordelios Chamber of Commerce, Costas Vassiliadis, spoke to Grtimes about an attempt to find a solution to the impasse. He highlighted the urgent need to open the market that will give an absolutely necessary economic break and, in addition, a way out of the decompression of society. 
“We are not second-class citizens”
The magnitude of the anger is unequivocally expressed through the post on Facebook, by the president of the Association of Hoteliers of Thessaloniki, Andreas Mandrinou, demanding that the market be opened, while speaking of second-class citizens.
The government and the president of the Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce (EETH), Michalis Zorpidis, ask the government to revoke the decision to suspend the operation of the retail trade in Thessaloniki.
“We call on the government, at the last minute, to reverse the decision not to open retail, to give hope to the thousands of professionals in Thessaloniki and together with the safe exit to the people of Thessaloniki to move to an environment of safe health Observing the measures that professionals have already implemented ”, the president of the EETH underlines in his announcement.
“The sudden decision taken is a major blow to the already affected business in Thessaloniki,” notes Mr Zorpidis, adding that “the contradictory and contradictory statements by scientists on the effect of retail on the spread of the pandemic, leave questions tortuous with no response to the professional Thessaloniki, while the unpredictable reactions of the people being destroyed cannot be controlled. “Health is our priority, but also our survival is our concern.”
“If you are looking for a scapegoat, you have found it”
The Kozani merchants also express their strong reaction, considering that the government’s decision is discrimination against them, as they express in the relevant advertisement they issued, where they state, among other things:
Once again, there is not the slightest respect for the merchants who since Wednesday prepared to reopen the stores with their own suggestions, from the infectious diseases committee. Open – close, Attention – Rest !!
The truth is that on this occasion the image of the epidemiological burden worried us all a lot and most of our colleagues were deeply concerned if we should open up at this time ‘when we see the health system so overwhelmed by the people of EKAB and the doctors of the Hospitals do everything they can to keep people alive.
But it’s sad that we’re just turning our backs again! Now it has been proven that retail is not responsible for the evolution of the pandemic in our region. And while in all areas, which are also prone to health, the retail trade opens like a relief valve, here it remains closed. If it is not two meters and two pesos, what is it? Retail is the scapegoat again.
If we have to stay closed we have to stay, but ALL. ALL! It is not possible to continue living the theater of the absurd with closed stores, but with queues in supermarkets, queues in banks, queues in telecommunications stores, queues in public markets that continue to sell products that are not essential. If they do not close everything that seems there is no salvation! Isn’t that correct and fair? If this seems extremely difficult, then we must focus on individual responsibility, respect for our fellow man, tightening controls and opening up retail to operate here as in all other Regions.
Now our despair is enormous to see that we do not have the financial help for us and our families to live, nor the liquidity help that we have asked since the beginning of the pandemic to keep the stores open and with merchandise. We demand, among all the others that have been deposited for a year, the refundable advance 7 to contain an algorithm that duplicates the amounts that will be delivered to the companies of our Regional Unit and finally give financial compensation for the stock of goods created from from the previous year, but also the accumulation of liabilities with third parties that continues unabated! “
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