In order to “strengthen its industry”, a Dutch machinery manufacturer hires former Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire as an advisor

Sometimes Minister of the Economy, sometimes professor of politics and geopolitics in Lausanne (Switzerland)… The former Minister of the Economy and Finance Bruno Le Maire has decided to embrace a new career, that of advisor to the Dutch manufacturer of ASML semiconductors, Reuters reported this Thursday, December 19.

A project validated by the HATVP

This appointment “participates in the group’s efforts to strengthen the industry has appointed former French Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire to advise the group’s board of directors”declared a spokesperson for the group this Thursday. The High Authority for Transparency in Public Life (HATVP) considers “that the project envisaged by Mr. Mayor is compatible with the public functions he has exercised, subject to respecting certain precautionary measures”she declared that same day.

“Forbidden” to approach members of the government

The new professional activity of the former tenant of Bercy will therefore be subject to certain rules, such as to refrain from approaching members of the government or his cabinet in office at the same time as him, as long as they take care of public functions as well as services over which he had authority during his previous functions, and this, for a period of three years, indicated the HATVP.

Furthermore, Bruno Le Maire contacted the HATVP regarding a request for an opinion on “its project to modify the corporate purpose” of his company 48 Jacob “for the purpose of providing consultancy services” from ASML. He will take office a few weeks before Donald Trump’s inauguration as president of the United States.

A Frenchman at the head of the group since April

American measures to restrict the export of ASML to China, initiated by Donald Trump during his first term, were then extended, with the agreement of the Dutch government, under the administration of Joe Biden. In 2023, Bruno Le Maire announced colossal state aid of 2.9 billion euros for a new semiconductor factory for the Franco-Italian group STMicroelectronics with the American GlobalFoundries in France, as part of the ” Chips Act”, a major European Union plan to strengthen European capabilities in the sector.
At ASML, Bruno Le Maire will be able to advise in particular the Frenchman Christophe Fouquet, who took over as head of the group in April.

However, the former Minister of Economy and Finance will continue his interventions at the University of Lausanne, where he obtained a position as a visiting professor.