Macron grants Bezos France's highest honor, gets slammed by MPs

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
24 Feb 2023 23:53

The ministers say that the French president sides with the rich who evade billions worth of taxes and cuts French jobs over the poor fighting for their pensions.

Emmanuel Macron with Jeff Bezos in 2020. (Social media)

French President Emannuel Macron was heavily criticized by Left-wing MP's for granting the founder of Amazon Jeff Bezos last Thursday the Légion d'Honneur, France's highest order of merit, both military and civil.

MP Manon Aubry slammed Macron in a sarcastic tweet on his "bright idea" to award the American billionaire with the Legion of Honour in a ceremony at the Elysée Palace.

"Context: Record CAC40 [French stock exchange] profits, inflation, massive demonstrations against the reform of pensions ... Macron's bright idea: Decorate the boss of Amazon Jeff Bezos … with the Legion of Honor," she said on Twitter.

Contexte : profits records du CAC40, inflation, mobilisation massive contre la réforme des retraites…

💡Idée lumineuse de Macron : décorer le patron d’Amazon, Jeff Bezos, 4e homme le plus riche du monde, de la légion d’honneur.

Tout. Va. Bien. https://t.co/jweRWRZaZZ
— Manon Aubry (@ManonAubryFr) February 23, 2023

MP Francois Piquemal joined the criticism against Macron's step on his Twitter account, saying that the French leader always prefers the rich over the poor.

"Always and forever, everything for the rich, nothing for the people!," he said on his Twitter account.

🔴Jour #greve16fevrier

Les gens par millions : « Non à la #ReformeDesRetraites de #Macron »

Macron: décore en secret Jeff #Bezos de la légion d’honneur, en compagnie de #BernardArnault

Encore et toujours, tout pour les riches, rien pour le peuple! 🤮https://t.co/BwLNsPXvcg
— François Piquemal (@FraPiquemal) February 23, 2023

"Bravo Jeff Bezos" said MP Leila Chaibi on her Twitter account sarcastically.

The MP also slammed Macron saying, "While we marched against his reform of #Retraites Macron decorated you [Bezos] in the name of France for billions worth of tax evasion, in addition to destroying the earth's resources and spying on Amazon's employees."

👏Bravo Jeff Bezos !

Alors qu'on défilait contre sa réforme des #Retraites Macron vous décorait au nom de la France pour

- Fuir l'impôt par milliards
- Détruire la planète
- Espionner les salariés

Une récompense bien méritée de la main du président des riches !#MakeAmazonPay https://t.co/bL6AVjwXln pic.twitter.com/w3MULPWPwy
— Leïla Chaibi (@leilachaibi) February 23, 2023

On her part, MP Alma Dafour called out the French president for his presenting the Legion of Honour to Bezos who "contributed to the destruction of 85,000 retail jobs in France" while the country is in the middle of pension reform.

"Tell me who your friends are, I'll tell who you are" she continued.

"In the midst of pension reform, Macron gives the Legion of Honor to #Bezos who: - enabled massive VAT fraud on http://Amazon.fr - contributed to the destruction of 85,000 retail jobs in France. Tell me who your friends are, I'll tell you who you are," she posted on her Twitter account.

En pleine réforme des retraites, Macron donne la légion d'honneur à #Bezos qui :

- a permis une fraude massive à la TVA sur https://t.co/kXjyZH82lV

- a contribué à la destruction de 85 000 emplois dans le commerce en France

Dis moi qui sont tes amis, je te dirai qui tu es https://t.co/e1EOH3qfFb
— Alma Dufour (@alma_dufour) February 23, 2023

'President of the rich'

France's public debt has increased by over €600 billion since Macron took office in 2017, despite his support for austerity policies and deficit-reduction measures. Whether it's tax breaks for the wealthiest 1% or government support for French industry and green investments, the French state has managed to find endless lines of credit to finance its own priorities.

The pension reform is considered the last straw for many. It has even managed to unite the trade unions in opposition to it. In the run-up to his re-election last year, many blasted Macron for his tax policies, which earned him the moniker "president of the rich".