Credits: Benh LIEU SONG / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 3.0.
Emmanuel Macron announced that the booksellers along the Seine in Paris will ultimately not be moved from the riverbanks for the Olympic Games. This decision comes after a long debate over the need to clear the quays for security reasons.
The police prefecture had initially planned to temporarily remove part of the stalls for the opening ceremony. However, the booksellers strongly opposed the move, fearing for the survival of their trade. In the end, the president instructed the Interior Minister and the Paris police prefect to guarantee the full preservation of their spaces along the Seine riverbanks.
Macron asked that the security setup be adjusted to avoid any impact on the upper riverbanks, which will reduce public capacity. But despite cutting attendance to around 300,000 spectators, this choice reflects a desire to balance security and heritage.
The booksellers, gathered within the Cultural Association of Paris Booksellers, had even considered legal action to challenge the planned relocation. This outcome therefore avoids a prolonged conflict.
This decision is part of a broader effort to highlight Parisian traditions and trades, as our recent interview with Alexia Delrieu, artist, writer, and bookseller, on our Ecostylia website shows.