Paris (AFP)
The former socialist minister Arnaud Montebourg calls on Wednesday in Liberation for a "reconquest of our sovereignty" and for "an ecological reconstruction" based on a strong state to emerge from the crisis of Covid-19, remarks greeted by the rebellious Jean- Luc Mélenchon.
Retired from political life and entrepreneur for several years, Mr. Montebourg confides "a vision, an analysis" and "each will do what he wants".
He believes that the health crisis makes the French experience "a feeling of humiliation": "in health matters our state has been unpredictable" and "unable to cope" while "our country has united in its history through the building a strong state that unifies and protects. "
The "austerity cures" that the European Union has "imposed" have "destroyed public services", "decisions that today are paid for in our hospitals and our nursing homes", denounced the former Minister of Productive Recovery.
Arnaud Montebourg wondered about Emmanuel Macron's announcement of disruptive policies to come in the coming months: "Is the Head of State best placed to carry out a policy of economic patriotism, after having let Alstom slip away , Technip, Alcatel, and how many others? (...) In Bercy, when I proposed nationalizations, Emmanuel Macron explained that we were + not in Venezuela + and today himself therefore proposes to + do Venezuela + ".
Mr. Montebourg proposes for his part "a major reconstruction of the State", to the organization currently "obsolete", to "assert our collective interests in the face of the markets".
He advocates the "reconquest of our sovereignty in the broad sense: food, technical, digital, energy", but also an "ecological reconstruction": "as few imports as possible, an economy more oriented towards the continental domestic market, with good wages and better prices to compensate those who produce here. "
Arnaud Montebourg also assumes to want "to turn the printing press like the Bank of England and the American Federal Reserve did after the crisis of 2008".
The leader of La France insoumise Jean-Luc Mélenchon was delighted in a tweet on Wednesday: "Exciting interview with Arnaud Montebourg. I note the convergence of concerns, sometimes to the word! Bravo."
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