Atos, soon to be nationalized? MPs are considering it to save the company


Samir Rahmoune

October 25, 2023 at 5:46 p.m.

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Atos © © nitpicker / Shutterstock

The Atos logo on a group building © nitpicker / Shutterstock

Atos has been in difficulty for several years now, to the point where some MPs are calling for temporary nationalization.

The company is indeed of strategic importance for France. It ensures the country a certain level of sovereignty in areas such as cybersecurity or supercomputers. Unfortunately, its concerns, illustrated by the sudden change in the group’s management in mid-October, make it prey for all foreign appetites. Hence the urgency of nationalization according to politicians coming from very diverse sides.

Some are leaning towards total nationalization…

How to keep Atos in place, and above all, under the control of France? This is a question to which Les Républicains MP Olivier Marleix, already known for his denunciation of the sale of Alstom, responded by tabling an amendment in the 2024 Finance bill.

This would result in a complete, but temporary, nationalization of Atos. “ This choice is motivated by the threats of acquisition from Daniel Kretinsky and the major changes planned for the group » he explains to France Info.

Atos © Casimiro PT / Shutterstock.com

MEPs want to look into the Atos case © Casimiro PT / Shutterstock.com

… when others want to reserve the measure for activities “ sovereign »

The socialist deputy Philippe Brun wants him to take another path, namely “ the temporary nationalization of the “sovereign” activities of the Atos group “. He thus succeeded in getting his amendment voted on this afternoon by the Finance Committee of the National Assembly. He judges that these activities “ absolutely essential for our national independence » must remain French, nationalization being a measure allowing them to be preserved while awaiting the implementation of a more lasting solution.

On the government side, Bercy explains that it has not initiated operations that could lead to nationalization. But with potentially several parties in the Assembly wanting this measure, and while the Renaissance government party only has a relative majority, the question could well arise in the weeks to come.

Source : France Info



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