CGT leader warns that sections of French business are normalising far‑right politics, raising political risk for firms
Executive summary: Sophie Binet, secrétaire générale de la CGT, told Le Monde that part of the French patronat is making a “courte échelle” to the far right by assessing it only on financial interest after a Medef‑organised presidential debate on 27 August 2026. The remark signals a growing political risk for businesses, as normalising extremist politics can erode social stability and affect investment climates.
Who is involved: Sophie Binet (CGT), Medef (employer organisation), the French far‑right (National Rally/RN), and French businesses.
Likely next: Expect increased scrutiny from labour unions on employer political alignments and possible public debate on the role of business in upholding democratic norms.
In an interview with Le Monde, CGT secretary general Sophie Binet said that after a Medef‑organised presidential debate on 27 August 2026, some employers judge the far‑right National Rally solely by its financial interest, effectively normalising the party. She argues this risks legitimising extremist politics and could undermine the social stability that businesses rely on. The statement highlights a growing rift between labour unions and employer organisations over political alignment in France.
Timeline
- — Sophie Binet, secrétaire générale de la CGT : « Une partie du patronat est en train de faire la courte échelle à l’extrême droite en la normalisant » (Le Monde — Économie)
Key entities
Sources
Open the full interactive case file on Beyond →