After 7 years at Bercy, the former Macronist Minister of Economy and Finance has just been hired by the Dutch ASML Holding. The High Authority for Public Life (HAVP) has deemed this mission compatible, under conditions, with its former ministerial functions.
Bruno Le Maire is taking advantage of his political retirement to visit Europe. After becoming a professor at the research center Enterprise for Society at the University of Lausanne, in Switzerland, the former Minister of the Economy of Emmanuel Macron continues with the Netherlands where he will become a consultant to the board of directors of ASML Holding, the Dutch giant of semi- drivers. While the company faces strong Asian and American competition, it justifies the hiring of the former minister: “this mission [lutter contre la concurrence] must be accomplished in a dynamic geopolitical and economic environment and, therefore, we regularly seek high-level advice.”
Requested by the former minister, the High Authority for Public Life (HATVP) issued its opinion on December 3 regarding this appointment. If she estimated it “compatible with reservation” with the former ministerial functions of the senior civil servant, Bruno Le Maire will have to “respect certain precautionary measures”. He will not be able to approach ministers who were in government at the same time as him and members of his cabinet as long as they still hold public office.
5.5 billion euros for semiconductors
Bruno Le Maire will begin his activity on January 1, a few weeks before American President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Under his first mandate, the United States had put in place several measures aimed at limiting ASML exports to China, measures extended under Joe Biden. Within ASML Holding, the former Minister of the Economy will work alongside the group’s former French commercial director Christophe Fouquet, who took the helm of the Dutch giant last April. The two men met during an interview during the Choose France 2024 summit last May in Versailles. Summit during which the Elysée announced a record investment of more than 15 billion in 56 projects.
The former minister spoke on several occasions during his ministerial functions in favor of massive investment in these new technologies, while Europe is left behind by the United States and China in this area. As part of the France 2030 investment plan, he had already announced state support of 5.5 billion euros over five years for the semiconductor sector. A large part of this sum was allocated to the French company STMicroelectronics for the construction of a new electronic chip factory in Crolles, in the Grenoble region.
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