Uber took advantage of the protests in the taxi sector produced in Europe in 2014 to show themselves as victims of the drivers’ reaction and thus get closer to various political leaders.
This is revealed by an international journalistic investigation in which media such as ‘El País’, laSexta, the BBC, ‘The Guardian’ and also by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists have participated, which explains that the company met with the now president of the Generalitat, Pere Aragonèswhen I was then a member of a commission on collaborative economy.
They also tried it with the person who presided over the Government in 2014, Arthur Masand La Moncloa, Mariano Rajoyalthough, according to ‘El País’, they deny that the meeting ended up taking place.
Profit from the protests in Barcelona
The demonstrations of the taxi drivers against the arrival of Uber in Europe generated some scenes of violence against the platform and their drivers and vehicles. Research reveals that the company decided to capitalize on these actions to gain the empathy of the public. “It would be very powerful to have photos of violence in Barcelona this week and also of other incidents”wrote the director of Public Policies of Uber for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Mark MacGann, according to what the investigators of the case have published.
The attempt to get closer to politicians also involves today’s President of the National Commission of Markets and Competition (CNMC), Cani Fernándezat that time a lawyer for the Cuatrecases office that had Uber as a client.
Already then the company considered the CNMC as “main ally” to establish itself in the Spanish State and now the president of the body is the lawyer who represented the interests of Uber a decade ago.
130 political positions on target
The international investigation also affects the French president, Emmanuel Macron; former European Union Commissioner Neelie Kroes; former irish prime minister Go Kenny; former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahuand former UK Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborneamong others, that would have helped Uber to enter the markets of their countries by adapting the legislation.
Related news
In total, the data extracted from leaked conversations places up to 130 political positions in the bullseye of Uber.
Precisely A few days ago Uber announced its return to Barcelona as a service of transport vehicles with drivers (VTC) with a fleet of about 200 cars.