Barnier wants to know what the groups that are laying off people have done with “the money we gave them”

POLICY – But what did they do with all this sorrel? Michel Barnier made Booba (or almost), this Tuesday, November 5 at the National Assembly by asking the large groups which announce massive layoff plans, what they have done with “ the public money given to them. »

Questioned by the president of the communist group in the Assembly, the deputy for Puy-de-Dôme André Chassaigne, this Tuesday, November 5 during questions to the government, the head of government explained that he did not “ be proud » choices made by Michelin or Auchan of “ destroy jobs. »

« I am concerned to know what these groups did with the public money that was given to them. I want to know “, he insisted, announcing that he wanted “ ask questions » to the leaders of these large firms, then “ learn lessons » potential abuses and abuses. And to add: “ there are not necessarily good answers on industrial sovereignty. »

« Support each employee individually »

Concretely, the Prime Minister explained that he was “disagree” with the decision of the Michelin automobile group to close its sites in Vannes, in Morbihan, and Cholet, in Vendée, where a total of 1,254 employees work. He indicated that he had met his CEO Florent Menegaux “a few days ago”.

The distributor Auchan, for its part, plans to cut 2,389 jobs, notably through the closure of around ten stores, in an attempt to revive itself after several complicated exercises. In total, almost 4,000 jobs are threatened by these announcements made this Monday.

In this context, the Prime Minister affirmed his wish to see these groups “working with the local fabric, local elected officials (…) unions, local employers, chambers of commerce” pour “put (…) together all the tools we have to support each employee individually and support these territories in the possibility of reconversion”.

“We must create or recreate industrial employment, as well as maintain agricultural employment in our country”said Michel Barnier, referring to the creation at the beginning of 2025 of a “industrial savings account”as well as “European responses” with “less naivety” facing foreign competition “not always loyal”.

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