“Business leaders are worried, we should not make them nervous with political uncertainty that lasts too long,” believes the head of Medef

Invited on France Inter on Monday, the president of Medef believes that companies “need visibility”.

“We need visibility, we need stability, and above all we need no one to come and bludgeon us with legislative measures that are totally inappropriate given the economic situation.”says Patrick Martin, president of Medef

According to him, despite “the Olympic effect”the country’s economy “is caught up with reality” and the lack of a clear direction on the political situation in France. “Business leaders are worried, we should not make them nervous with political uncertainty that lasts too long”insists Patrick Martin for whom “You need a good program and the right person to implement it.”

The head of Medef insists on the current economic context, judging “a little worrying” the international situation. He points out in particular the “toughness of international competition” : “The Chinese are flooding us with solar panels, electric cars and steel; the Americans are gaining power and the American elections are coming”he says. Added to this, according to Patrick Martin, “indecision” in which France is located.

Without directly naming the New Popular Front’s program, Patrick Martin criticizes the measures advocated by the alliance of the left. “If there are more taxes, if we load the boat by cancelling the pension reform and increasing the minimum wage at the sole expense of companies, it will inevitably impact the decisions of companies”he says.

The head of Medef is particularly opposed to the increase in the minimum wage to 1,600 euros as proposed by the NFP, fearing that this would precipitate “bankruptcy filings” In “collective catering, security, cleanliness, construction and mass distribution”. “It will not be economically sustainable”he insists. Patrick Martin instead proposes, to revalue salaries, “reviewing the financing of social protection”.

The president of the employers’ association also criticises the repeal of the pension reform desired by the New Popular Front. “If we increase the pension deficit by 17 billion euros per year from 2030, at some point, when France’s debt level is at an unbearable level, someone will have to pay and it will be employees, businesses and/or retirees.”he says.

Last week, the president of the Union of Local Businesses (U2P) Michel Picon called for the appointment of a business leader like Renault’s Jean-Dominique Senard to Matignon. On Monday, Patrick Martin reacted to this possibility but did not make a clear statement. While he praised the skills of the “business leaders [qui] know how to count and have, perhaps more than others, a sense of the long term”the head of Medef believes that he “You need someone with a lot of experience” to lead the future government because “It will be very subtle to negotiate with Parliament and to achieve at least relative majorities on a case-by-case basis”.

“A good program and the right person to implement it.”

Patrick Martin, president of Medef

on France Inter

Patrick Martin sees rather at Matignon someone who “in his mind and in his actions, he steps over the presidential election, that is to say, he places the country on a long trajectory”The president of Medef wants the future Prime Minister to be “someone who understands the major economic mechanisms and who is as comfortable as one can be with the current political landscape”.