Economy: "84% of Medef members are worried," warns Patrick Martin, who criticizes the 2025 budget

The government must restore the confidence of French entrepreneurs. This is what MEDEF President Patrick Martin is demanding. This Tuesday, on RMC and RMC Story, he called on the government to "send very strong signals to restore confidence" and to "reverse the trend" following a 2025 budget that he considers "anti-growth."

According to him, "morale among entrepreneurs is not very good," citing an internal survey where 84% of MEDEF members are worried about the current outlook." However, he finds that the investments announced at Choose France "send very positive messages to foreign investors," even if he believes that companies in France must be taken into account.

"Confidence is essential. Confidence among entrepreneurs, confidence among households. It's abnormal that we have such a high savings rate right now. (...) The government must send very strong signals to restore confidence," adds Patrick Martin.

Under these conditions, the president of the Medef (French employers' association) says he is opposed to any "additional taxes." The "boss of bosses" deplores certain measures in the 2025 budget. "There are budgetary choices that were made in a hurry, which are weighing on growth. It has been calculated that the anti-economic, anti-growth, anti-employment measures that (...) were taken as part of the 2025 budget weighed on growth by 0.5%," he explains.

"We are asking the government to reverse the trend in 2026, to encourage wealth creation, to encourage employment, to encourage investment and innovation. The government absolutely must listen to this," insists Patrick Martin, who says he is "rather worried" even if "the worst is not certain."

Furthermore, the president of the Medef (French employers' association) once again expressed less concern about the trade war launched by US President Donald Trump than about China. "Trade negotiations with the United States could end in a more or less decent way. We must counter the illegal trade offensives of the Chinese. All of this could ultimately restore a foundation for growth," he explained.

The Choose France summit, organized on Monday in Versailles by the Elysée Palace to attract foreign investors, which broke a new record with 20 billion euros of projects announced , according to him "sent very positive messages to foreign investors."

Nevertheless, he commented, "we must never lose sight of the fact that the foundation of the activity is still the companies native to France. And so they too must be taken into account, they must be encouraged."