François Bayrou inaugurated the Marie Curie building at Hélioparc last October. | Photo LVG
This Friday, November 13, after numerous twists and turns, François Bayrou was appointed to Matignon, following Michel Barnier. Béarnais managers and entrepreneurs are divided on its economic vision and its approach to business.
“I don’t think he’s among the most hated”euphemizes a Béarnais business leader when talking about the new Prime Minister’s love affair with the territory’s bosses. In fact, many entrepreneurs welcome, in François Bayrou, a “visionary”. “He is a true builder mayorpraises Sébastien Labourdette, manager of Sogeba and president of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques Construction Federation, and someone who has demonstrated, in the city, his committed and visionary side”. And to list the achievements that he brings to the credit of the mayor of the Béarnaise capital: “the hydrogen bus, the square in front of the Pau station, the Halles, the Foirail, the city center… He is someone who clearly understands that the economy is one of the key tools in the dynamics of a territory ».
To its credit, the revitalization of downtown Pau
However, locally, François Bayrou carries the image of a politician who cares little about the economy, and who is far removed from the issues of entrepreneurship. “He did not give me this impression at the town hall of Pau and at the Agglomerationnuance Didier Laporte, president of the CCI Pau-Béarn, he very quickly felt that the economic revitalization of the city was a priority, for example”. “We didn’t see him oftenconsiders Alexandre Zimmerman, director of the Calame jewelry store and president of the Pau Commerces association. But what interested us in his action was the questions of beautification, the image of the city, dynamics, works… and on these subjects, it is difficult to be negative, everything that had been said was done. Les Halles is a success, the Hédas, the Foirail… there is an improvement in the city which is undeniable, a real desire for rehabilitation on his part and that of his team. The Galeries Lafayette project, today, is really supported by the mayor. He has a vision for his city. And on the entertainment side, we have a sales department which works very well, which is not necessarily the case in other cities”
Also read – In the city center of Pau, the rebirth of commerce
“If we look at its results in Pau and the agglomeration since 2014, in my opinion it is very positive, agrees Didier Laporte, president of the CCI Pau-Béarn. In particular, he managed to revitalize a city center which was in a very difficult situation and to restore the attractiveness of the city. Everything is not linked only to the action of François Bayrou obviously, but he was able to instigate many things, with what many politicians lack: a vision and a trajectory.”
It is also “someone very pragmatic and passionate about progress, research, innovationadds Eric Dournès, director of the event communications agency Créa-SUD. Hydrogen, geothermal energy, low-carbon fuels… it’s not fake. It grows in research, teaching, education…”
Lack of monitoring of territorial attractiveness
“I don’t think the economy is its primary glue”cautiously comments another business leader, close to François Bayrou. Allusion to the career of the mayor of Pau, a graduate of classics… but also to his approach to economic development. “He has a very good command of what is focused on commerce, the direct economy, he is very good at creating tools for steering economic development”adds our interlocutor, citing for example the SPL (local public companies) created by the Pau metropolitan area and which allow it to precisely control town planning, events and commercial planning, in particular by pre-empting a large part of the available land before reinjecting it into the private market… under the conditions and for the uses planned by the town hall. “He is less comfortable creating more global tools, a real territorial attractiveness policy, for example. [Le pôle métropolitain] Pays de Béarn and its economic development council, it’s a thing… François Bayrou thinks that because he said something once or twice, it happens. But if there is no permanent political follow-up behind it, if we do not push, the projects will unravel”. And to cite another example: “On agriculture, he has a very political vision, on the societal role of farmers… but when you look a little beyond that, he understands less the entrepreneurial aspect of a farm”. That said, our interlocutor qualifies, “He has surrounded himself with people who have this culture, and he has a keen eye on entrepreneurship, which is already good. He knows how to create good conditions for entrepreneurs. »
Also read – François Bayrou: Rives du Gave, an “absolutely unique” project
“You can’t be good everywherecomments Alexandre Zimmermanbut he knows how to surround himself with people who have the right answers. Under his two mandates, we had competent interlocutors, Jean-Paul Brin first, then Jean-Louis Peres”. “Nationally, its ability to surround itself well, particularly around Bercy, will be decisive given the economic situation of the countryconsiders Didier Laporte for his part. As I answer these questions, we do not know the composition of the new government, but I obviously hope that it will be able to make the right choices”
“Allow relaxation”
“He’s the man for the job.asserts Modem Jean-Jacques Lasserre, president of the departmental council. In the delicate situation in which we find ourselves, his qualities should allow the necessary relaxation, and perhaps the creation of a different set of actors that we need”
Others are waiting to judge on the evidence: “He will have to deal with many political forces, so he will not have much freedom” estimates a Béarnais industry leader. “I hope that he can and will succeed in taking into account the grievances of business leaders but it is too early to judge. For the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, I don’t think it is wise to count on him: his task is national, he will have many other issues to advance. » “He was able to mobilize as mayor and president of the urban area to defend Pau airport when I asked him torecalls on the contrary Didier Laporte. I dare to hope that he will be able to mobilize in the same way, if not more, now that he occupies the highest functions of the State! »
The underside of a turnaround
What was said, at the Elysée, this Friday morning, between François Bayrou and Emmanuel Macron, while indiscretions in the press indicated that Matignon seemed to have to pass under the nose of the first? According to a well-informed source, the president of Modem has, in recent weeks, concluded a gentlemen’s agreement with the socialist Bernard Cazeneuve: if one of them was named Prime Minister, the second would be number two in his government, with an expanded portfolio of Minister of State. “On Friday morning, Macron called Bayrou to tell him “You need to prepare to be number two”says our source. Bayrou went to the Elysée to discuss the details, it was only there that he learned that it should not be that of Cazeneuve, but of Roland Lescure.. An attempt by Emmanuel Macron to keep control of the government, which would have provoked the fury of his ally. “He told him “if you do that, I will be your first opponent”… Macron gave in”says this same source. And here is François Bayrou installed in Matignon. In any case, this is the story that is buzzing in the corridors of power in Béarn.
