MEP Manon Aubry, a member of the La France Insoumise party, was sharply criticized on Monday evening on BFMTV by Jean-Philippe Cartier, entrepreneur and founder of the association Le Pouvoir de l'Action (The Power of Action). Guests on BFM Grand Soir , hosted by Maxime Switek, the two were scheduled to debate wages, taxes, and the cost of labor. However, the discussion quickly turned into a confrontation. Faced with the economic proposals of the La France Insoumise representative, the entrepreneur repeatedly attacked her professional experience and knowledge of the business world, provoking her anger.
"You're known for being a great entrepreneur!": the barb that makes Manon Aubry bristle
The tone becomes heated when Jean-Philippe Cartier points out that he has always developed his businesses in France and paid his taxes there. "I'm self-taught and I've built businesses all my life in France, and I've never left France, paying my taxes in this beautiful country ," he explains. Manon Aubry retorts, "And we're supposed to thank you for paying your taxes?"
The entrepreneur then brought up the salaries of European MPs, before the left-wing politician replied: "But I pay my taxes, sir." A remark that irritated her: "I pay my taxes too! What's with these phrases: 'I pay my taxes, sir'?"
The confrontation becomes more personal when Jean-Philippe Cartier makes a sarcastic remark about the MEP's experience: "I know you're known for being a great entrepreneur. You've been in politics for ten years and you know the job market."
Manon Aubry explodes: "You know nothing about my life, sir! You know nothing about my life!"
His opponent continued: "For seven years, I never took a salary. I started my company at 18, I never cost a euro, I never went to university, and I built my business." Before retorting: "Do some research on mine before you come on the show."
"Lower labor costs, madam, I beg you!"
In essence, Jean-Philippe Cartier advocates for a reduction in employer social security contributions to allow companies to increase wages. He specifically proposes a 10% to 20% salary increase for employees earning up to €2,500 gross.
"I'll give you the solution: lower the cost of labor. Lower, if you are in office tomorrow, the cost of labor for five million SMEs, madam, I beg you ," he insists.
Manon Aubry advocates a different approach, favoring a more progressive tax system and maintaining social welfare funding. However, she struggles to accept her opponent's remarks: "I'm sorry, sir, I didn't come here to receive an economics lesson from someone who despises their interlocutors."
Bernard Arnault and the billionaires: Manon Aubry targeted
The exchange became even more heated when the MEP stated: "All the French people watching us tonight pay their taxes. However, Bernard Arnault, I'm sorry, he doesn't pay them."
A categorical accusation against the head of LVMH, which she fails to substantiate during this exchange. In particular, the statement makes no distinction between Bernard Arnault's personal taxation and that of his group's companies.
Jean-Philippe Cartier then denounces the political attacks against the wealthy, mentioning in particular the use of the image of Olivier Dassault, who died in 2021, in activist communication.
"The method is not to put up a photo of Olivier Dassault, who is deceased, to incite hatred against the billionaire. That's completely absurd!" he exclaimed, before adding: "These are things that disgust me; they remind me of the worst years in history."
Manon Aubry immediately protested: "Excuse me, what insinuation are you making, sir?"
The discussion then brought up an old statement by the left-wing politician: "Billionaires are a kind of pest. I stand by that." The entrepreneur strongly criticized this statement and mentioned calls to "eradicate people ," which Manon Aubry categorically denied: "No, I never said that anyone should be eradicated!"
"If you want to talk to yourself, I'm leaving!" The MEP threatens to walk off the set
Increasingly annoyed by Jean-Philippe Cartier's interruptions, Manon Aubry finally threatened to leave the show: "If you want to talk by yourself and ask and answer your own questions, no problem, I'm out of here."
A few moments later, she loses her temper again: "Can I finish my sentence or have you decided to do the whole show by yourself, to hurl insults and abuse at me? What's the next step?"
"I'm not insulting you ," the entrepreneur replied. Maxime Switek repeatedly tried to calm the exchanges and bring his guests back to the original topic: the salary increase.
Despite a stated common goal, the two speakers remain at odds over how to achieve it. Jean-Philippe Cartier advocates for a reduction in labor costs, while Manon Aubry favors increased wealth redistribution and heavier taxation for the very wealthy.
The entrepreneur will be remembered most for his attacks on the MEP's economic experience, contrasting it with his own career as a business leader, which began at age 18. For her part, Manon Aubry repeatedly protested against her opponent's tone, even threatening to walk off the set.
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