Climatic disasters like a call to order, a war at the gates of the European Union, the return of inflation and the threat of a Russian gas cut… Despite the blue sky that bathed the green lawns of the Longchamp racecourse for La Rencontre des Entrepreneurs de France (REF) 2022 – the big meeting of the Medef – Elisabeth Borne’s speech on Monday August 29 left no doubt: the end of summer has come. And winter comes, with its share of anguish. Will the energy run out? How will the French manage to make ends meet? “The time is serious, but it is no longer about findings. It is about resolute action”, hammered the Prime Minister in a serious tone.
To encourage business leaders to “take their part, to their extent”, the tenant of Matignon did not choose the passage in force, but a two-step method. First encourage by appealing to “collective responsibility”. But leaving a threat hanging over their heads: binding measures could be taken if the results are not there.
Energy sobriety to avoid sudden cuts in the heart of winter? For the moment, companies have free rein to choose their “small gestures” in order to save energy… But if rationing were to be imposed, they would be the first affected. The purchasing power ? If Élisabeth Borne did not expand on the question during her speech before the Medef, the subject had already been put on the table: companies that can make gestures are strongly encouraged to do so… Otherwise the State could pull the weapon of superprofit taxation out of its hat.
It remains to be seen whether the call for collective responsibility will be sufficient… And whether there is still time to wait for everyone to do their part. Time is running out, social unrest is boiling in its pot, and the countdown to winter has already begun. See you in a few weeks.