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French President Emmanuel Macron is dealing with requires a parliamentary inquiry, after the “Uber information” uncovered his extraordinary efforts to assist the corporate foyer in opposition to the taxi business.
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
We have been speaking this week about leaked paperwork that present the lengths to which Uber went to tackle the taxi business in nation after nation. In France, the Uber information have provoked new questions concerning the position of President Emmanuel Macron. This is Rebecca Rosman.
REBECCA ROSMAN, BYLINE: Uber’s courting of Macron began in 2014, based on textual content messages and emails leaked by a former Uber govt. The corporate was desperately on the lookout for an ally who may assist them develop their operations in France. Emmanuel Macron was then working because the financial system minister underneath Socialist President Francois Hollande. Amidst the trove of greater than 124,000 paperwork often known as the Uber information, there was proof of secret conferences with lobbyists, reassurances of assist and strategies that Macron provided to assist Uber develop the corporate on the expense, his critics say, of France’s licensed taxi drivers.
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PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON: (Talking French).
ROSMAN: On Tuesday, Macron disregarded the allegations, telling reporters he was, quote, “proud” of supporting Uber as a result of they created jobs for French employees, including he would “do it once more tomorrow and the day after tomorrow.” French authorities rapidly backed the president, saying his actions have been a part of his regular duties as minister. However opposition politicians on the political left and much proper are calling for a parliamentary inquiry into the small print of Macron’s relationship with Uber.
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FRANCOIS RUFFIN: (Talking French).
ROSMAN: Talking to France Inter radio on Tuesday, far-left MP Francois Ruffin for an investigation into Macron’s 2017 presidential marketing campaign donors, implying some kind of ongoing quid professional quo. Macron, in the meantime, has praised Uber for giving jobs to hundreds of younger folks from the troubled working-class suburbs. That rationalization is not sufficient to please France’s licensed cab drivers, who, in contrast to Uber drivers, should bear round 300 hours of coaching and pay as much as 250,000 euros for an official taxi license. Thus far, their protests in opposition to what they name the Uberization (ph) of France have not labored. However opposition forces in parliament say, this time, they are going to verify the president listens.
For NPR Information, I am Rebecca Rosman.
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