VIDEO – “We are going to take control of all of Atos’ strategic activities,” announces Bruno Le Maire on LCI

“The Russian economy is not doing that well,” says Bruno Le Maire. “The future will show, unfortunately, because I have a lot of affection for the Russian people, that the country has embarked on the path of dependence. The war is what drives the Russian economy. Yes, the sanctions are effective.”

“I am not preparing for 2027,” assures Bruno Le Maire on LCI. “I have been on my task, I have been concentrating on my responsibilities for seven years. We must continue to obtain economic results, guarantee the return to healthy public finances. This is enough to fill a man’s day.”

Will Bruno Le Maire stay in government until the end of Emmanuel Macron’s mandate? “As long as the President of the Republic trusts me, I will stay,” he says on LCI. “I don’t leave when things become difficult. My relations with the President of the Republic are very good and always have been. The proof is that he has maintained his trust in me. I see a lot of remarks from people who have no never attended a discussion.”

“Marine Le Pen’s economic program is of the communist type”, denounces Bruno Le Maire, who cites “the return to retirement at 60, the nationalization of motorways” or even “the refusal of supply-side policy.” “These are people who no longer believe in France,” criticizes the Minister of the Economy. “Let us not give in to this spiritual capitulation. Marine Le Pen’s policy would be a catastrophe for our country.”

Should there be a referendum on immigration, as demanded by the National Rally? “No difficult question should escape the vote of the French,” replies Bruno Le Maire on LCI. “We must never be afraid of the French people. It is important to consult the French.”

“I submitted a letter of intent this weekend with a view to acquiring all of Atos’ sovereignty activities,” announced Bruno Le Maire on LCI. “The state holdings agency, under my authority, will carry out this operation. I hope that the state is not alone, but the state takes the initiative.”

As a reminder, Atos notably owns supercomputers used for nuclear deterrence and contracts with the French army. “It’s a heavy decision,” explains Bruno Le Maire. “When we see threats to a private group that carries out strategic activities, I take my responsibilities and I guarantee that these strategic activities remain French.”

“Total must remain a French company”, wishes Bruno Le Maire, while the oil company is considering a main listing on the New York stock exchange. “If we want Total’s stock market headquarters to remain in Europe, we must give it the means to develop. The President is fighting for the union of capital markets: a company, when it wants to raise money, will be able to do so on the European Union market.”

To save money, should we cut health spending and ask the French to pay more out of their own pockets? “We must open a calm debate on the financing of our social model,” replies Bruno Le Maire. “Where does France spend much more than its neighbors? Pensions and social welfare. We have to look at what is legitimate, or not, and ask ourselves the questions in good time.”

“Those who, yesterday, wrote me letters to tell me to spend more during Covid-19, come today to tell me that I am not sufficiently restoring the public accounts,” denounces Bruno Le Maire on LCI. “Let’s keep our cool. The French economy is doing well, we have not had a recession. I am not minimizing the difficulties of our public finances, but our situation is solid.”

“During Covid-19, we had to protect our businesses, our large industrial sectors, our employees. I am proud of it,” declares Bruno Le Maire on LCI. “Now, we must return to the path of restoring public finances with serenity, but firmness. We have taken the necessary decisions and we are applying a simple principle: we earn less, we spend less.”

“There was an accident on revenues in 2023,” recognizes Bruno Le Maire, while the government has revised its forecasts downwards. “I want to understand what happened. It’s an accident worth 20 billion euros, it’s very important. We have to understand it so that it doesn’t happen again. On the other hand, public spending has was perfectly executed.”

On Friday, Fitch and Moody’s decided not to downgrade France’s rating. “This decision is a clear signal of the credibility of our strategy for restoring our public finances,” rejoices on LCI the Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire. “We speak to the agencies, there is regular dialogue between my services and the agencies. It is always a good signal when agencies say that the French economy is solid.”