Entrepreneurs' group enters presidential race

Entrepreneurs du Rhône, a national federation representing 320,000 companies and 6 million employees in France, has announced it will participate in the upcoming presidential election by promoting its policy proposals instead of running a traditional campaign. The group's first vice-president, Gaëtan de Sainte-Marie, described this as a new approach where the organization will act as a "candidate" by influencing the political debate.

Consultation process to gather ideas

The initiative, announced by the organization's national president Amir Reza-Tofighi, includes a "major consultation of entrepreneurs" set to begin in mid-October in Lyon. Over 110 meetings are planned across France over three months, with each gathering expected to have at least 100 participants, including business leaders, employees, and other citizens.

Proposals to shape candidates' positions

The ideas and recommendations collected during these meetings will be compiled at the national level and submitted to presidential candidates by the end of January. The goal is to encourage candidates to take clear positions on key issues and make commitments that will be closely monitored after the election.

Focus on regulatory simplification

De Sainte-Marie emphasized that this approach represents a shift in methodology, with Entrepreneurs du Rhône actively presenting its own ideas rather than just listening to candidates. He cited an example from a Lyon meeting where a participant suggested that each professional sector identify unnecessary national or European regulations that could be removed, a call that has been made for years without success.

Call for economic and social balance

De Sainte-Marie argued that the sustainability of the French social model depends on the creation of wealth, which requires listening to entrepreneurs. He criticized the current political climate as being "governed by fear," citing recent incidents of looting in Lyon's city center as unacceptable and harmful to both business owners and public safety.

Demand for stronger security measures

In response to the rising concerns about urban safety, de Sainte-Marie called for stronger police presence and decisive action from authorities to address the issue of security in urban areas. He stressed the need for a political environment that supports both economic growth and public safety.