July 20, 2017
France is great again?
Many of you have read positive articles on the new government in France and its freshly elected President, Emmanuel Macron. Is it real?
First, one needs to understand the context: a quasi-unknown individual a year ago, Mr. Macron has stunned all by winning the first, then second, round of the presidential election, as an "anti-populist", pro-European, candidate.
Almost as surprisingly, his party (called "Republic on the Move!"), which has been in existence for less than a year, won an absolute majority (with 350 seats over 577) in the subsequent parliamentary election, held on June 11 and 18, 2017, reducing, for example, the Socialist representatives to 28 from 280 in 2012.
This, in turn, means that for the next five years, Mr. Macron has both a mandate and an ability to implement his program. France, in electing him with such latitude, rejected the extreme right (with a Frexit program) and the extreme left (with a very high taxation program).
One of Mr. Macron’s key strengths has been his "extreme centrist" positioning, based on the simple concept that necessary policies are neither leftist or rightist ones; they are just common sense and should be supported by all reasonable politicians regardless of their original party. He also promoted a very large number of non-politicians to political positions, thus considerably altering the political landscape.
Being an ex-Rothschild banker, Mr. Macron is guided by a resolute desire to "open the country for business" and eliminate the disincentives to investment in France, particularly at a time when Brexit causes potential issues for businesses based in the UK. He also understands the need to act fast, and intends to pass his most emblematic promises, aiming at triggering a supply-side shock and boosting confidence, before the end of 2017.
What are these promises?
A new momentum for foreign investments in France
After seven years of profound economic crisis, and five years of French bashing due to the former president’s administration, his tax increases and anti-business stance, France now benefits a true shift in perception. These changes have the effect to make France a desirable investment target, especially for business and real estate. Opportunities for foreign investors are relatively cheap, especially given the quality of the administration, education, health and infrastructure and the stability of the political system.
France has numerous fundamental strengths including its central location in Europe, excellent communication and transport infrastructure, significant industrial achievements in a wide range of sectors, high productivity, and a well-qualified workforce. All these strengths support opportunities for foreign investments, from the United States and elsewhere.
2017 marks Gibson Dunn’s 50th year in France. With 45 lawyers, whose expertise covers all aspects of business law, such as corporate transactions, restructuring/insolvency, private equity, litigation, compliance, public law and regulatory, technology and innovation, and finance, as well as tax and real estate, our Paris office, is well-positioned to assist all the Firm’s clients as their strategy shifts towards France.
Gibson Dunn’s lawyers are available to assist in addressing any questions you may have regarding the issues discussed in this update. For further information, please contact the Gibson Dunn lawyers with whom you usually work, or the following authors in the firm’s Paris office:
Bernard Grinspan (+33 1 56 43 13 00, bgrinspan@gibsondunn.com)
Judith Raoul-Bardy (+33 1 56 43 13 00, jraoulbardy@gibsondunn.com)
© 2017 Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Attorney Advertising: The enclosed materials have been prepared for general informational purposes only and are not intended as legal advice.