Medef, Entrepreneurs and U2P will audition the presidential candidates

On March 8, in Paris, the three representative employers' organizations will bring together the presidential candidates to examine their economic programs. In a joint press release, the three organizations indicated that Patrick Martin (Medef), Amir Reza Tofighi (Les Entrepreneurs, ex-CPME) and Michel Picon (U2P) “wanted to audition together the candidates for the presidential election on March 8, 2027”. The meeting will take place at the Grand Rex, an emblematic cinema on the grand boulevards of Paris. However, its precise format remains “to be defined”.

The list of candidates should be almost finalized during this meeting, organized a few weeks before the first round of the presidential election on April 18, 2027. Employers are today expressing their deep concern about the French economic situation and the efforts required of businesses. According to the press release, this meeting "will make it possible to compare the proposals in order to respond to the concerns of business leaders, and to describe their vision of the economic strategy of our country." Medef, Les Entrepreneurs and U2P add that “these exchanges will help to enlighten voters on the consequences of the choices proposed, for activity and employment”.

This week, the U2P, representing artisans, traders and the liberal professions, also announced field meetings with several candidates. Gabriel Attal will be received first, on November 12 and 13, in La Rochelle. Next will come Bruno Retailleau, on November 20 in Chartres, then Jean-Luc Mélenchon, on December 1, in an unspecified location. Marine Le Pen, Edouard Philippe and Raphaël Glucksmann will be received on later dates.

The candidates will each complete a day of immersion in a territory during each trip. They will interact in their workplace with business leaders – Gabriel Attal on the 13th at a charcutier/caterer –, will go to an apprentice training center (CFA), will exchange with local economic players and will participate in a debate with the leaders of the U2P, broadcast on LCI.

Seven presidential candidates took part in a major debate organized by Medef in Paris (Marine Le Pen, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, Raphaël Glucksmann, Edouard Philippe, Gabriel Attal, Bruno Retailleau and Marine Tondelier).

Machine-translated from French