Competitiveness close to nothing, prospects of zero growth, then liquidation. A term which is rarely good news for a company or association. Even more so when it comes to the departmental branch of Medef, the powerful employers' organization. After years of wandering, with, for example, ten times fewer members than in the Hautes-Alpes, the Vaucluse Medef is reborn from its ashes.
Thursday evening, after six months of supervision desired by the national and ensured by Jean-Louis Maurizi, president of Medef Sud, a new Medef Vaucluse association took over to stand on its own two feet. The only candidate in the running, Roland Paul was elected president for a three-year term. “ I discover this world “, humbly confides the president of GSE, specialized in corporate real estate and Vaucluse's economic flagship (around 900 million euros in turnover, 200 employees employed at the headquarters in Avignon). Completely external to past erratic management, it is precisely this profile of the so-called white knight that was sought by the national authorities.
« GSE has been put in the spotlight a lot thanks to the territory, it is a principle of reciprocity to come and give your time to help the territory develop », asks Roland Paul, who does not put forward a big plan when we talk to him about a road map. Her “ ambition, to ensure that we all unite around regional projects, in certain departments, we feel an energy to push projects, not here in Vaucluse we all benefit from speaking with one voice “. A way of wanting to appease the picrocholine wars between the different employer representations, Medef, Chamber of Commerce and Industry or CPME (small and medium-sized enterprises), which the thorny issue of the takeover of Nextech has once again highlighted. The ex-Medef “ had forgotten that its main role was to be there for its members, we had to rebuild this relationship, we made the decision to rebuild from scratch », formulates Jean-Louis Maurizi.
From 50 members this summer, Medef 84 now has 76. “ I am very happy that we are witnessing a rebirth of Medef Vaucluse, we are convinced that Vaucluse and its companies need a powerful and dynamic departmental Medef », approves Patrick Martin, national president of Medef who came especially for this election. In a period “ where it's easier to promise sweat and tears than success “, according to Roland Paul, Patrick Martin unfolded the employers' antiphon in its most caricatured form. “ In a fairly weak economic situation and a worrying political panorama, nothing should be done to hinder entrepreneurial dynamics. “, he defends. In other words, no to increases in “ charges ”, taxation and not “ unraveling the pension reform ».
However, we cannot say that the governments of the Macron era did not line up behind these precepts, with massive reductions in employer contributions and corporate taxes, reducing revenue by almost 23 billion euros per year. of the state, according to the Public Policy Institute. “ We are aware of the deterioration of public finances, we must restore order but not to the detriment of businesses, the responses which consist of increasing charges and taxes are not going in the right direction », insists the boss of bosses. Even for large groups who have made great profits at a time when everyone should be making an effort? “ This surcharge seems to be in place but does not appear to be a good solution; these companies are citizens and will pay. » Thanks, boss!
