VIDEO – Belgium: many theaters and cinemas continue to defy the opening ban

It is a decree that does not pass with the Belgian population. While in France, the authorities announced on Monday evening new measures to regulate contacts within theaters, with the return of gauges, the Belgian government has decided to impose since Sunday a closure of the venues. culture.

But this Tuesday, at the cinema “Le Palace” in Brussels, the activity continues. “We have a very efficient ventilation system that we have improved. We apply the sanitary passes, we have the masks. It is forbidden to eat and drink in the rooms here”, details Eric Franssen, its director, in the TF1 report at the top of this article. Before adding: “All these measures have shown their effectiveness and nobody is afraid to go to the cinema, because we have shown so far that we can welcome people in complete safety”.

This act of resistance, which could cost him a fine, is supported by the public, theaters continuing to attract spectators despite the ban. “It is above all out of solidarity for the cultural sector”, launches a woman who is about to watch a movie. “Le Palace” is not the only cinema to disobey. In all, nearly 100 cultural venues have decided to remain open in Belgium.

This is also the case for certain theater troupes which continue to perform. “We are in a place that is permanently hyper-protected. And it is the only place that is closed in Belgium. We do not do any harm in fact, we tell stories, we have distances, so yes , we must disobey “, estimates the actress Alizée Gaie with TF1.

Others point to the inconsistency of such a decision. “Here in Belgium, the experts who advise our policies precisely in terms of health measures did not include the closure of culture in their demands. So obviously, the anger is great”, underlines Pierre Thys, general and artistic director of the National Theater of Wallonia-Brussels.

So much so that some mayors support this movement of disobedience in the cultural sector. No checks have yet been carried out by the police. On Sunday, a large demonstration bringing together 5,000 people in Brussels was even organized to protest against this decree. Two days later, the Belgian government has still not reacted.