French employers host seven 2027 presidential candidates for economic debate at Roland-Garros
France's primary business federation opened its annual conference on Wednesday, challenging seven prospective 2027 presidential candidates on debt, taxation, and industrial policy.
Presidential contenders face business leaders at Roland-Garros
The French employers federation (Medef) opens its annual summer convention, the Rencontre des entrepreneurs de France (REF), at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris on 26 August 2026. Running under the themes of courage and action through 28 August, the conference features an economic debate on Thursday between seven declared candidates for the 2027 presidential election. Gabriel Attal, Raphaël Glucksmann, Marine Le Pen, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, Édouard Philippe, Bruno Retailleau and Marine Tondelier will take the central court for the first collective economic encounter of the campaign. Five small and medium-sized enterprise executives will question the political leaders on their platforms, drawing on a comprehensive consultation of business owners.
- Medef publishes executive consultation of 66,000 business leaders
- Opening of the Rencontre des entrepreneurs de France at Roland-Garros
- Economic debate between seven presidential candidates on the central court
- Closing day of the three-day business convention
Survey reveals broad executive pessimism ahead of 2027
The debate structure follows a three-month consultation of 66,000 business leaders conducted by Medef and OpinionWay, released on Tuesday. The poll shows that 82% of company heads feel pessimistic about the economic impact of the next presidential term, with 29% describing themselves as very pessimistic. Only 17% report optimism, of which 2% are very optimistic. When identifying top priorities for the upcoming five-year mandate, 83% of respondents chose tax reductions, 81% demanded national reindustrialisation, and 75% sought both regulatory simplification and cuts to public debt and spending. Medef stated that the campaign must address how candidates intend to rebuild the economy rather than proposing further tax increases.
- Tax reduction
- 83 %
- Reindustrialisation
- 81 %
- Norm simplification
- 75 %
- Debt and spending reduction
- 75 %
Patrick Martin issues warning on economic stagnation
Medef President Patrick Martin outlined the federation assessment during interviews with France Inter and Le Parisien on Wednesday. Martin warned that France faces severe risks of economic and financial distress amid depressed growth, weak investment, persistent trade deficits, and six consecutive quarters of rising private-sector unemployment. He observed that few candidates have presented detailed economic programs and called for leaders willing to tackle structural problems directly. Martin affirmed that Medef will cooperate pragmatically with whoever wins the presidency in 2027.
We are republicans and we will work with whoever the French people elect to office, whether we like it or not: we have no other choice than to be pragmatic and adapt to circumstances.
Federation challenges candidate platforms and tax surcharges
Martin took aim at several specific proposals, warning that Marine Le Pen refusal to adjust her pension plan (which lowers retirement age to between 60 and 62) would worsen economic strains. He dismissed Raphaël Glucksmann inheritance tax proposal as capital-repelling, and sharply criticised a plan backed by La France Insoumise and banker Matthieu Pigasse to cancel debt held by the Banque de France. Looking toward upcoming budget discussions, Martin voiced firm opposition to extending exceptional corporate profit surtaxes into a third year, noting that Medef member firms represent 12 million private-sector employees whose wages and hiring depend on investment stability.
French companies are already the most taxed in the world. We have reached our pain threshold.
