François Bayrou, a pioneer in digital technology, envisioned Europe’s first digital newspaper before the Internet era. As Mayor of Pau, he transformed the city into a smart environment with advanced infrastructure and a mobile app for residents. While advocating for tax incentives for startups and emphasizing industrial sovereignty, his recent focus at the High Commission for Planning has overlooked digital transformation. With pressing priorities ahead, Bayrou relies on his MoDem party associates experienced in technology.
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“My journey has led me to a fascination with digital technology from an early age, long before the advent of the Internet.” In a 2021 interview with La République des Pyrénées, François Bayrou expressed his pride in being a trailblazer in new technologies.
Nearly a decade prior to the rise of the web, the newly appointed Prime Minister envisioned publishing “the first digital newspaper in Europe.” During the pioneering days of the Minitel, this son of Béarn farmers devised a media platform targeting agriculturalists, featuring weather updates, and information on fertilizers and seeds, as reported by Solutions Numériques & Cybersécurité.
Bayrou also asserts that he established the Regional Office for Lifelong Learning (Orep), a public institution dedicated to training in information and communication technologies, commonly known as ICT. In his 1990 book “1990-2000, The Decade of the Misguided,” published by Flammarion, the former Minister of Education foresaw e-learning as a means to democratize access to education.
Pau: A Smart City with Béarn Flair
Having served as the Mayor of Pau for a decade, François Bayrou is proud of transforming his city into a technological showcase by implementing fiber optics early on. Pau stands out as a smart city, equipped with video surveillance systems and offering residents a mobile application called “My Easy City.” This app enables citizens to complete online tasks and access real-time information on available parking spots.
Throughout his many interviews, the 73-year-old politician has shared his perspectives on digital technology at the national level. During his candidacy for the 2012 presidential election, François characterized “digital technology as a leap in civilization,” as noted by L’Usine Nouvelle.
To foster the startup ecosystem, he advocates for offering the same tax incentives to business angels as those provided to venture capital firms. More recently, Bayrou has emphasized the importance of industrial sovereignty, particularly regarding France’s capacity to lay underwater cables and launch satellites. This ‘sovereignist’ stance aligns him with former colleague Michel Barnier.
MoDem Leaders in Action
However, his role at the High Commission for Planning from 2020 to 2024 has yielded minimal focus on digital transformation. The latest activity report highlights topics like energy transition, pension reform, and aquaculture development, but lacks a dedicated discussion on digital technology. It only touches on how digital divides relate to the aging population and its effects on the job market.
What lies ahead for him in power? François Bayrou faces numerous immediate priorities, including the preparation of France’s budget for 2025. Fortunately, he can rely on the expertise of his close associates. Members of the MoDem party, which he founded, such as Jean-Noël Barrot and Marina Ferrari, have both held positions related to digital technology, with Barrot serving as a delegated minister under Élisabeth Borne and Ferrari briefly as Secretary of State under Gabriel Attal.