France’s third richest man, and the world’s 25th, has issued stern words of warning to President Emmanuel Macron: He doesn’t understand the poor, reports The Telegraph.
It is de rigueur in Left-wing opposition circles to accuse Mr Macron, 40, of being “the president of the rich”. Far rarer is a put-down from one of France’s most eminent captains of industry, and a self-made billionaire to boot.
Yet in an interview with M, Le Monde weekly magazine, François Pinault, 81, said: “(Mr Macron) doesn’t understand the little people.” “I’m afraid that he is leading France towards a system that forgets its least well-off.”
A household name in France, Mr Pinault is one of the country’s most feared and admired bosses and the world's 25th richest man, according to Forbes. He founded and long ran the luxury giant now known as Kering, which owns Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Balenciaga and Alexander McQueen among others. The group is today run by his son François-Henri.
Mr Pinault père now spends his time collecting and patronising modern art, and has galleries in Venice and Paris. His holding company Artemis also owns Chateau Latour and Christies auction house.
The tycoon is no stranger to French politics, and is a longtime close friend of former president Jacques Chirac. The two have often be seen sipping pastis in Saint-Tropez. Mr Pinault confessed to having voted for Socialist François Hollande against conservative rival Nicolas Sarkozy in 2012.
The dig comes at a sensitive time for Mr Macron, who this week refused to discuss his plans to build a swimming pool in his presidential retreat at the Fort de Brégançon on the Riviera - a move considered insensitive by opponents at a time when the government has cut housing benefit for the poor.