"I never hear you indignant when a whole street houses music shops": Lucie Castets defends Master Poulet

During a Paris council meeting on June 19, Lucie Castets, the mayor of the 12th arrondissement, drew a parallel between the spread of fast-food establishments and the concentration of music instrument shops or artisans in certain streets. She questioned what she termed a "variable geometry of indignation" among elected officials who, she argued, express concern over halal chicken restaurants but remain silent about other commercial presences.

Castets' remarks, made during a discussion about the Master Poulet halal chain, aimed to highlight what she perceived as selective outrage. "I was surprised in the arrondissement council that you could have a form of variable indignation, since I never hear you express indignation about other types of businesses, including other types of fast food, or when an entire street is filled with music instrument shops or artisans," she stated.

Her comparison was met with an immediate retort from Sylvain Maillard, a Renaissance deputy and municipal councilor, who exclaimed, "But that has nothing to do with it!" Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire intervened with a smile, encouraging Castets to continue and playfully cautioning Maillard against bringing "very bad methods from the National Assembly" to the Paris council.

Castets further explained her analogy, asserting it illustrated the issue of "mono-commerce" in certain areas. She emphasized the need for diverse food offerings accessible to all socioeconomic groups, including working-class individuals. "I was saying in the arrondissement council that it seemed fundamental to me that there should be options for all budgets, including for the working classes," she said, adding that this should not compromise goals for sustainable and quality food for everyone. Grégoire concluded the debate by stating he did not wish to "stigmatize" these establishments, admitting he and his children are customers.