2023-07-06 19:25:09
Patrick Martin, the new president of Medef, is applauded by his colleagues after the vote, in Meudon (Hauts-de-Seine), July 6, 2023. On the left in the photo, Dominique Carlac’h, the other presidential candidate. LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP
Clean and flawless. Thursday, July 6, Patrick Martin was elected president of Medef with 73.18% of the vote, against 26.82% for his rival, Dominique Carlac’h. He succeeds Geoffroy Roux de Bézieux, the two men having to proceed to the transfer of powers on July 17.
A few minutes after the verdict was delivered, the winner spoke to the press about two priorities: maintaining social dialogue ” autonomous “ – that is to say on the initiative of employers and trade unions, without interference from the State – and the desire to achieve a “shared diagnosis”leading to solutions for “reconciling growth and climate”.
Thus ends a duel between two personalities who already held high-ranking responsibilities at the Medef: Patrick Martin was deputy chairman – that is to say number two – of the employers’ movement, while Dominique Carlac’h held the one of the vice-presidencies, while ensuring the mission of spokesperson.
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Of the 1,120 electors representing the various components of Medef, 1,023 took part in the electronic vote, which was opened on Wednesday evening. Patrick Martin’s very wide score is in no way a surprise. Over the course of the campaign, officially launched at the beginning of March, it had garnered the support of a large number of territorial structures and major professional federations: the Union of Industries and Metallurgy Trades, the French Building Federation, France Assureurs, etc. Mrs. Carlac’h, she had many fewer declared allies: a few departmental Medefs (including that of Hauts-de-Seine) and the Private Hospital Federation.
« To the loyal »
The proclamation of the results took place Thursday in front of several hundred business leaders and employees of the organization, at Hangar Y, a space fitted out in a former industrial building in Meudon (Hauts-de-Seine), in the south-west from Paris.
At the podium, the first words of the chosen one were for his opponent, to which he repeated “all his respect, all his affection”. “The story is not over”, he slipped. Did he mean by this that Dominique Carlac’h would remain in his team? Patrick Martin was elliptical when the question was put to him during a press conference: we should see more clearly when the authorities are renewed on July 17. Requested by The worldthe candidate did not respond.
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What is certain is that the two contenders tried to show that they had faced each other “fairly”, without acrimony – which was not always the case in previous elections. Under the applause of the audience, they gave each other a hug, shook hands, kissed, these outpourings being filmed and broadcast on a big screen in the main room of Hangar Y. Patrick Martin obviously worked not to humiliate his competitor. Moreover, Mrs. Carlac’h’s score, far from being synonymous with defeat, rewards the “very good campaign” that it has accomplished, according to an employer source. It is very possible that, among the federations and territorial Medefs having supported the outgoing delegate president, certain major voters have shown indiscipline, to the benefit of the candidate.
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