In a troubled political period, Medef wants to exercise “positive power”

The sixth Meeting of French Entrepreneurs, at the Longchamp racecourse in Paris, this year has the theme "Power", expressed in all its forms.

The executive power is missing this year from the podium and in the aisles, due to the lack of a government in place to honor the annual meeting of employers.

The legislative power was represented on Monday by Yaël Braun-Pivet, Renaissance president of the National Assembly, and Gérard Larcher, LR president of the Senate. Both were concerned about the state of public finances. Mr Larcher reiterated the importance, in his opinion, of the role of the social partners.

In “the unprecedented, fractured, worrying panorama” of the country, “it is fortunate in many respects that our Parliament is regaining a central role,” said Mr. Martin.

Asked at the start of the evening about the Elysée press release ruling out an NFP government, whose proposals such as the minimum wage of 1.600 euros or the cancellation of the pension reform make employers bristle, Mr. Martin was cautious: "this "What worries us is not the person, the composition of the government, but the program," he told AFP.

A little earlier, in his speech, Mr. Martin had called for "reaffirming the responsibility and autonomy of the social partners", proposing in particular to resume the "unfinished" negotiations on the employment of seniors.

“Social democracy is an essential component of the cohesion and performance of our country, especially when political democracy is being sought,” he said.

He announced that Medef had every intention of “extending its influence” to have more influence in the public debate and to defend policies favorable to businesses.

Hand on heart

The president of Medef announced the creation of an “economic front” bringing together business leaders, economists and think tanks (think tanks) to weigh in on the debate.

In this period of uncertainty which worries bosses and slows down investments, Medef also intends to overcome the differences which sometimes oppose it to other representative employers' organizations, CPME and U2P, to display "a collective".

This uncertainty, however, did not deter registrations for this REF, 10.000, at least as many as last year, according to Medef.

In addition to leaders of large companies - Axa, EDF, Engie, Google, L'Oréal, Publicis, Safran, Sanofi France, Schneider Electric, or CMA CGM (whose CEO Rodolphe Saadé will be invited on Tuesday for a "conversation" of a half hour), artists or members of civil society, and some politicians, will participate in the various round tables.

This will be the case of the former minister, mayor of Meaux and former boss of the right Jean-François Copé, of the environmentalist deputy of Paris Sandrine Rousseau, or of the European deputy Valérie Hayer, head of the list of the ex-majority presidential candidate in the European elections and president of the Renew Europe group.

The national secretary of the PCF Fabien Roussel participated for the first time at the REF, in a round table on consumption, during which he was sometimes applauded.

As he left the stage, he read the press release from the Elysée formally ruling out appointing a government of the New Popular Front, immediately calling for "a great popular mobilization" against the decision of the head of state.

Only one minister was present on Monday at the opening of the REF. Came according to his entourage "to thank the entrepreneurs", Bruno Le Maire, resigning Minister of Economy and Finance, for 7 years at Bercy, was in the front row during the introductory speeches, but did not speak either on stage or in the corridors.

The one who promoted the supply-side policy, appreciated by businesses, stood up, with a moved expression and with his hand on his heart, thanking the audience who applauded him warmly.