The president of the Béziers traders’ union steps up to the plate

Daniel Chassin is the president of the Béziers Ouest-Hérault traders' union. Midi Libre – Laurent François

Daniel Chassin believes that the City did not play the game in the negotiation for the return of non-food street traders on Fridays to the Champ de Mars.

The big man, looking like a rugby player, arrives with an imposing file under his arm: "I have all the proof of what I say", says Daniel Chassin, visibly annoyed by the attitude of municipal services. And of Robert Ménard who affirmed that his union "s’is dissociated" from the traders wanting to return to the Champ de Mars. They left it against their will in 2020 to join the outskirts of the Raoul-Barrière stadium: "I can't dissociate myself from that. them since I never called anyone at the town hall, regrets the president of the traders. With all the work which was done upstream, I am certainly not going to dissociate myself from them!"

To attest to his good faith, he provides several copies of emails: "The first meeting I had in town hall dates from March 29, 2023. Based on the fact that there could be room for only 60 manufactured traders (non-food , Editor's note), the mayor told us, and this is normal, that he cannot choose for us. So it's up to us to manage."

"I haven’no further news"

Renting a large room in a hotel, Daniel Chassin, who represents all the traders, then organized a meeting bringing together several dozen itinerants wanting to return to the city center: "It was decided that the selection would be based on seniority, the product sold and the fact of having been present at the Champs de Mars before going at the stadium, assures the president of the merchants. It wasn’s easy, but we were finally able to make a list. We were to meet again in October 2023 with the town hall and I had to present it. But I haven't had any news or response to my emails."

The leader of the traders also carried out metric measurements on the Place du 14-Juillet. He wanted to know how many traders could set up alongside the “food" He agreed on the number of 60: "There could even be more, he smiled. But now the mayor is talking about only 38 locations. You should know that even the food traders and all those around the Champs de Mars want the manufactured goods to come back. Every Friday, when there were all the merchants, it brought a lot of people, potential customers for everyone."

Robert Ménard: "I can't choose for people"

For his part, Robert Ménard confirms having received a phone call "from a lady from the union, saying dissociating" ambulants who demonstrated on Friday April 26, at the Champs de Mars. The mayor adds that he will receive Daniel Chassin "and this lady who called. I repeat that the problem is choosing the traders. I want to do everything but not choose for people. I doubt that it was obvious because after Mr. Chassin came to see us, a group of traders came to say that he meant nothing to them. I then told them that when they all agree, they should come back and see me."

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