Medef summer university: Roux de Bézieux and Le Maire in unison on the measures to be taken to revive the economy – Le Monde

“We have not invited any presidential candidate, because the time has not come to list our demands”, explained Geoffroy Roux de Bézieux, president of Medef, opening the summer school of the employers’ organization on Wednesday 25 August. However, eight months before the ballot, Bruno Le Maire was applauded for a long time by the business leaders gathered in the stands of the Longchamp racecourse. And for good reason: the speech of the Minister of the Economy, who had taken care to recall that he “Wishes the re-election of Emmanuel Macron”, clearly echoed the one spoken a few minutes earlier by the boss.

Growth, industrial sovereignty, reduction in public spending, the need to “work more” or to implement pension reform: the measures put forward by the two men to revive the post-Covid economy set the tone for the future electoral campaign , on the side of business leaders, but also of Bercy. As for the two candidates who came as discreet visitors, Valérie Pécresse and Xavier Bertrand, they still took the time to listen to the bosses’ complaints.

“The health pass is not a health dictatorship, we are in favor of it”, Mr. Roux de Bézieux said straight away, but “Not everywhere, not all the time, and for as little time as possible, because its impact can be very penalizing”. What’s more, “We must stop the” whatever the cost “”, corn “Continue to help sectors that need it, in a pointillist way”.

Bruno Le Maire’s response had enough to satisfy the hierarchs of Medef. “Whatever the cost”, we are already out of it, it’s over “, assured the former member of the Republicans (LR) party. “We did not count public money (…), but now, we have gone to tailor-made ” for businesses that are subject to health restrictions (culture, hotel and catering industry, etc.), he explained. A meeting on the subject is scheduled for Monday, August 30 in Bercy. Same convergence of the two men on the reforms to come.

“Yes, France needs a pension reform”

Mr. Roux de Bézieux also deplored “An unemployment insurance system which (…) discourages (…) returning to work” and asked that the reform “Be put in place as quickly as possible”. “I would like the unemployment insurance reform to come into force on 1^er October “ for “Encourage the French to return to work”, added the tenant of Bercy. The deadline had been postponed following a decision of the Council of State evoking the uncertainties linked to the economic situation. Since then, the unemployment rate has almost returned to its pre-crisis level.

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