If one believes one study carried out by KPMG8% of French people have already invested in digital assets, while they are only 6.7% to hold shares. A more astonishing figure stands out: for 18% of respondents, the position of presidential candidates on the cryptocurrencies could influence their vote. It would even be a decisive point for 4% of them.
So, what is the position of the main candidates regarding digital and cryptocurrencies? Above all, four candidates are distinguished by the interest they seem to show for the thing. Their names ? Emmanuel Macron, Anne Hidalgo, Eric Zemmour and Jean-Luc Mélenchon…
Emmanuel Macron and his European metaverse
In 2017, but also during various episodes of his five-year term, Emmanuel Macron was able to appear as a character in tune with his time and with the reality of digital technologies as well as their major players. However, the quinquennium that is ending has not necessarily been rosy for supporters of cryptocurrencies, in view of countries such as Germany, Portugal, Spain, and more recently the United Kingdom which have clearly taken measures , in particular fiscal, in favor of the users of these new tools. In France, despite the sustained efforts of an LREM deputy, Pierre Pierson, the regime of owners of crypto-assets may have seemed unsupportive and unnecessarily complex. On the straight, at the end of 2021, some amendments have been adopted, suggesting a new, slightly more attractive regime for the possession of crypto-assets such as NFT’s.
President Emmanuel Macron, however, distinguished himself with a few key measures, in the program he unveiled on Thursday March 17. Among these is the development of a european metaverse which would notably have the ambition of not leaving Facebook-Meta monopolize this futuristic hobby.
At the same time, Emmanuel Macron made it known that he wanted to place ” the learning of digital knowledge at the heart of the school » and thus allow the learning of computer programming from the 5thand. ” From college, we want to be able to systematize the equivalent of the second foreign language from the fifth year where young people can choose the code “. The code is seen as a living language. The young president also expressed his concern about the harassment on social networks and therefore wished that a work of civic education be in the program of schoolchildren.
Anne Hidalgo and her Digital Manifesto
Anne Hidalgo is distinguished by the Digital Manifesto which she posted. She announces a clear intention: Strategically support the development of crypto-currency » in particular through the appearance of « financing counters ” to destination ” public investors “. She also hopes that a “ harmonization of national legislation and the adoption of a European regulatory framework for the management of crypto-currencies “. Ambition? Power ” weigh against extra-European markets “.
In addition, the candidate of the Socialist Party places the ” numerical revolution » among the major changes (including the climate change) for which it wishes to emphasize continuing education. More specifically, the mayor of Paris intends to train as many people as possible in new skills such as programming and cybersecurity.
As it should be, the socialist candidate expresses her concern for the rights of employees of digital platforms. ” I will put an end to the situation for workers on digital platforms, such as delivery people, to be self-employed when they have no control over their working conditions and remuneration. “. She is in favor of an employee status with social protections. Furthermore, she wishes that the transparency algorithms become the rule “. Easier said than done. Finally, Anne Hidalgo proposes to invest in public research in terms of digital technology.
Éric Zemmour, rallied at the last hour
When it comes to the former journalist Éric Zemmour, the surprise is great as his avant-garde position seems to contrast with a tendency to nostalgia that we could feel in his aspirations.
On February 14, 2022, Zemmour stood out for his visit to Ledger, one of the flagships of French crypto technology. And declare on his account Twitter : “ We must support theecosystem cryptocurrencies, sector of the future “.
At the end of this visit, the candidate of the Reconquête party presented his various ambitions for the digital sector. It proposes neither more nor less to exempt from taxes any capital gain realized on the sale of crypto-assets on one condition: As soon as at least 50% of this capital gain is reinvested in the capital of a company in the real economy “. Zemmour also intends to simplify the administrative procedures relating to tax returns and suggests a special regime for NFTs which would simply be equated with the corresponding physical asset – for example, artistic NFTs would be considered classic works of art. Zemmour also wants to promote theemergence of one european stablecoin.
More recently, Zemmour gave his vision of the sector in this formula: “ I understand this as a mixture of libertarian philosophy and de Gaulle’s talk of the gold standard. It’s about protecting against central bank currencies “.
Like Emmanuel Macron, Éric Zemmour is considering a plan to promote programming at school, ” to meet the growing demand for digital jobs “.
More generally, Éric Zemmour is in favor of the emergence, like Ledger, of local digital champions in areas such as the Cloud, cybersecurity orArtificial intelligence. He also wants sensitive data to be located in France.
Jean-Luc Méléchon, the hologram
The recent meetings of Jean-Luc Mélenchon with retransmission in several cities by holograms contributed to give to the image of this tribune a high tech flavor. What about its ambitions in this area?
One of the salient points of his program would be to promote the creation of a French foundry for microprocessors, in order to avoid situations of dependence but also to propel a sector of the future. In the same vein, he wishes create a public agency free software“and generalize their use” in public administration and National Education “. He is also in favor of a French Cloud.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon wishes to increase the number of police personnel specialized in the fight against cyberchild pornography, and to strengthen the resources of the Pharos reporting portal. He is also in favor of dissuasive penalties » for sites that do not meet their accessibility obligations.
Mélenchon also aims, like the other candidates located on the left of the political spectrum, to requalify the contracts of workers on digital platforms so that they are recognized as employees. It also intends to step up the fight against cybercrime.
What about cryptocurrencies? According to Mélodie Ambroise of the Association for the Development of Digital Assets (Adan) who wrote to the various candidates, the Insoumis did not express a position on the question. In addition, Mélenchon answered this to a question from ZoneBourse : “ We do not consider the blockchain as a technology providing solutions for today’s major challenges “. And to add that he sees there above all tools of financial speculation called to be supervised and regulated as such.
Jean-Luc, Emmanuel, Eric, Anne and the others…
What about the other candidates? Valérie Pécresse, candidate for the Les Républicains party, wants to develop the crypto industry but via legislation resulting from of a European framework on crypto-assets “. She also proposes to create a cyber parquet “, in charge of fighting ” crime on Internet », and wishes to accelerate the « digital shift in the health sector. Valérie Pécresse would like to subject the Gafam to a ” High Council for Economic and Digital Sovereignty “. Finally, it proposes to reserve 50% of Cloud hosting tenders in the public sector to European players.
The candidate of the RN, Marine Le Pen proposes a regulation of the cryptocurrency market, which would be considered usual currencies, subject to the same rules as these. The sector is deemed conducive to deceptions, errors and stock market blows » and it is important to fight effectively against « the price manipulationinsider trading or misleading information “. She would also like to impose on Gafam to open up the capital of their subsidiaries to French companies.
Yannick Jadot is considering measures to fight cybercrime and would like social tariffs to be put in place for digital equipment. He wants to impose the use of free software on the government as well as in local communities. The environmentalist also expressed concern about the energy consumption currencies such as Bitcoin and his intention to limit investment financial players in crypto-assets.
Nicolas Dupont Aignan wants to make France, ” the champion of free software “. And he finds himself dreaming of a google and social networks born in France.
At least two candidates ignore techno in their program: the figures of the extreme left, Nathalie Arthaud and Philippe Poutou. The latter nevertheless allowed himself this curious statement to the media ZoneBourse : “ Cryptocurrencies are by no means progress from the point of view of the great mass of the population. Any provision aimed at promoting their use must be removed “. That is what is said!
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