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PARIS – French President Emmanuel Macron defended his interactions with Uber during his time as economy minister, seeking to counter the growing criticism that has sparked calls for inquiry and prominence in a parliamentary debate Tuesday.
“I am very proud of what I have done,” Macron told reporters during a visit to the Isère region in southeastern France.
Macron, who seemed visibly moved, ignored several attempts by collaborators to move while defending himself from accusations that he unjustifiably supported the controversial enterprise against the will of the left-wing government he was serving at the time.
“I saw foreign business leaders, horror!” He said sarcastically. “If they created jobs in France, I’m very proud of them. And you know what? I would do it again tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. “
Macron’s comments came amid public outrage over a multitude of documents detailing the close ties between him and Uber during his time as economy minister, which some members of the opposition have described as a “scandal.” of ‘imminent state’ and a possible evidence of a ‘collusion of interests’. ”
Tuesday’s allegations partly dominated the first round of parliamentary questions since last month’s election. Macron lost his absolute majority, leaving him exposed to substantially greater scrutiny than in his first term, and under the political pressure of his valiant left-wing and far-right opponents.
“Basically, your project is [to create] The Uber society of a worker without rights. It is a collective social suicide, “said Danielle Simonnet, a left-wing MP in Parliament, addressing the government in the National Assembly on Tuesday.
When Uber entered France, Emmanuel Macron was a “true ally”
Opposition criticism is based on internal messages from Uber executives between 2013 and 2017, revealed Sunday by Le Monde, The Washington Post and other media, suggesting that Macron’s support for the company was far beyond what had been known publicly, and at times. it came into conflict with the policies of the left-wing government he served at the time.
The documents are part of the Uber Files, a collection of more than 124,000 internal records obtained by the Guardian and shared with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, a DC-based nonprofit newsroom and dozens of other news organizations around the world. the world.
On Monday, former Uber lobbyist Mark MacGann publicly identified himself as the source of the files. The Post and other project partners had previously agreed to keep their identities confidential.
According to the files, Uber executives and lobbyists believed Macron was willing to support them by pushing regulators to be “less conservative” in their interpretation of the rules that limit the company’s operations and trying alleviate the rules that hinder the expansion of the company in France. At times, even Uber was surprised by the extent of its support, internal communications show.
Macron’s allies seemed willing this week to defend their interactions with the company. Budget Minister Gabriel Attal on Tuesday described the outrage as exaggerated. “As usual, we make a ton of foam with a gram of soap,” he told BFM TV. “I don’t even see any problems.”
But the files could ask awkward questions for Macron and his followers.
Uber sought “strategic investors” in foreign media to win the government’s favor
Although the documents end in 2017, the year Macron was elected president, they are directly related to how he has tried to implement his agenda since then.
Macron, who was re-elected in April, has tried to liberalize the French economy and, according to his critics, this has involved passing on anyone who expresses concern about the social impact of their movements.
Far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon has regularly complained about the “uberization” of French society, an umbrella term used to describe transport and home delivery services, and has criticized the support of Macron to a sector he believes has undermined. workers’ rights. Mélenchon is now the public face of the largest opposition bloc in the lower house of parliament, where the possible investigation would be expected to take place.
Members and allies of Mélenchon’s party, France Unbowed, were among the most vocal critics this week.
Mathilde Panot, leader of the alliance in Parliament, suggested that Macron had helped Uber “loot the country” and criticized the president for acting as a “lobbyist for an American multinational with the aim of permanently deregulating labor legislation “.
Read the research: The Uber Files
The Uber Files is an international investigation into the transportation company’s aggressive entry into cities around the world, although it often challenges the scope of existing laws and regulations. The documents shed light on how Uber used stealth technology to frustrate regulators and law enforcement and how the company courted prominent political leaders, Russian oligarchs and media conglomerates while looking for points of interest outside the United States. .
The project is based on more than 124,000 emails, text messages, notes and other records that a former Uber lobbyist, Mark MacGann, provided to The Guardian. He shared the material with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, which helped lead the project, and dozens of other news organizations, including The Washington Post.
Read more about the research:
Key points of Uber files
Uber took advantage of violent attacks on its drivers to put pressure on politicians
Former senior executive Mark MacGann introduces himself as the source for Uber Files
“Press the kill switch”: Regulators entered Uber’s offices only to see computers darkened before their eyes
Uber promised South Africans a better life, but knew drivers were at risk of debt and danger
When Uber entered France, Emmanuel Macron was a “true ally”