Embarrassing revelations about an agreement between Uber and Emmanuel Macron, “ when he was Minister of the Economy. The Uber Files… an investigation based on thousands of internal documents from the ride-hailing company Uber and sent by an anonymous source to the British daily The Guardian”.
Documents which should have been kept secret and which were passed on to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICJ), of which The world.
The daily was interested in the links between American society and Emmanuel Macron when he was at Bercy, between 2014 and 2016.
It all started with the Thévenoud Law, which came into force in October 2014, and which regulates the conditions for becoming an Uber driver much more strictly, three years after the arrival of the American company in France. “The law prohibits UberPop, the service which has caused a huge movement of anger among taxis in the country by allowing everyone to become an occasional driver”.
Secret meeting at Bercy with Emmanuel Macron
Then-Minister of Economy receives four prominent Uber figures, including company founder and CEO Travis Kalanick. ” One hour later, writing Le Monde, the shock lobbying team, emerged stunned from Emmanuel Macron’s office. “In a word: spectacular. Unheard of, writes Mark MacGann, the chief lobbyist for the Europe zone, in a brief report sent to his colleagues. A lot of work to come, but we will soon be dancing; ” ” Meeting mega top with Emmanuel Macron this morning. France loves us after all “, he will also write. This meeting, which remained confidential, was not on Emmanuel Macron’s agenda. And these Uber Files show how Uber found a sympathetic ear in Emmanuel Macron, who a few months later sealed a secret “deal” with the company to “get France to work for Uber so that Uber could work in and for France » to analyse The world.
Emmanuel Macron suspected of having bypassed the government
A government that was rather hostile to Uber. The president at the time François Hollande, Arnaud Montebourg who was just before Emmanuel Macron at Bercy, Bernard Cazeneuve, Minister of the Interior, who is in charge of taxis, Manuel Valls, then Prime Minister… not everyone sees a a good eye for the expansion of Uber in the territory… Emmanuel Macron cannot ignore that he is thus short-circuiting the decisions of his colleagues in the government. The current president has never hidden his sympathy for Uber and its model… but the Uber Files show how much Emmanuel Macron was at Bercy, more than a support, almost a partner. A minister who suggests that Uber submit amendments “ keys in hand to friendly MPs; a minister that Uber France does not hesitate to call upon in the event of a search of its premises; a minister who, on October 1, 2014, “ almost apologize of the entry into force of the Thévenoud law. According to a message from lobbyist Mark MacGann, Emmanuel Macron said he wanted to help Uber “ work around of this law.
Emmanuel Macron’s motivation
All the details of this survey can be read in the columns of the World… who wonders: ” What was Emmanuel Macron’s motivation to get involved, with so much energy, alongside an American multinational with a sulphurous reputation? »
“A convergence of political views, first, in favor of rapid deregulation. But also a certain fascination for Travis Kalanick. In the controversial founder of one of the most “disruptive” companies of the last decade, the future president saw, it seems, a kind of double. On the eve of their first meeting, an employee of Uber recounted a discussion with her cabinet: “Emmanuel Macron is very interested in the story of Travis, a mirror of his – less than 40 years old and impressive success”. »
Asked, the Elysée affirms that the action of the former Minister of the Economy fell within the classic framework of the functions of a minister who was “naturally brought to exchange with many companies involved in the profound change in services that has occurred during the years mentioned”.