the president of the RN Jordan Bardella tries to seduce small bosses, but struggles to convince

Two months before the European elections, the president of the National Rally took part in the grand oral exercise in front of the bosses, at the invitation of the CPME. With rather mixed success.

The president of the National Rally and head of the RN list for the European elections was invited, Wednesday March 20, to speak to small business owners, at the invitation of the Confederation of Small and Medium Enterprises (CPME). Faced with a hundred business leaders, Jordan Bardella presented himself with his suit and tie and the firm intention of convincing.

“I thank you, Mr. President, for inviting someone of whom you said this weekend in Le Figaro, that he did not have much to say on economic subjects. I will try to show you the opposite.”he said straight away, addressing the president of the employers’ union, François Asselin, before outlining his proposals for SMEs.

Skeptical bosses

On the measures front, Jordan Bardella notably put forward the possibility of increasing small salaries by 10% without any additional burden. A proposal which was immediately questioned by CPME boss François Asselin. “With your proposal, are we not in a slightly demagogic position which risks making us immediately lose competitiveness on the one hand, and on the other hand, a smokescreen for our employees, since immediately sales prices are likely to increase by 10%”he asks.

And then there is this factual error, when Jordan Bardella suggests a delay before increasing charges and constraints, when a company has just passed the 50 employee mark. “On the thresholds, I mentioned this three-year waiting period”begins Jordan Bardella, before being taken up publicly by the head of the CPME: “Forgive me Mr. Bardella, but we already have a five-year deadline in France”. An exchange which creates a slight unease in the room.

At the end of this oral interview, most bosses are cautious. “Not credible”says Carole, a boss, “he did Bardella, that is to say there is no concreteness in terms of the economy”. “We actually felt, at first, this desire to soften their speech for several years after the exit from the euro, the exit from Europe. That does not mean that it has gained in credibility. We have the impression of a fairly standardized discourse. What we would ask is to go down a little further in our concerns”, estimates another boss in the room.

The road to credibility still appears long for the RN, which is nevertheless sparing no effort. Jordan Bardella and Marine Le Pen are increasing their meetings with economic players. Those around them assure that more and more bosses of large companies are asking them for lunches, far from the media.