The President of the French Republic decorated the founder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos, on Thursday February 16. The day of mobilization against the pension reform. All a symbol or pure chance?
When it comes to decoration, it’s all a matter of taste and color, Valérie Damidot is not going to say the opposite. The one given to Jeff Bezos last week at the Élysée is subject to all interpretations. Emmanuel Macron has indeed raised the historic founder of the giant Amazon to the rank of Knight of the Legion of Honor, on February 16, and in the greatest discretion, our colleagues from the Point.
A decoration given the day the French demonstrated against the pension reform
The ceremony would have been held in an intimate setting, not to say private, but in a certain splendor of which the Presidential Palace has the secret. This restricted side of the thing was apparently desired by the head of state and Jeff Bezos himself, who handed over to Andy Jassy at the head of Amazon in 2021, let us remember, even if he remains the group executive chairman.
The one who has oscillated for years between first and fifth place in the ranking of the richest people in the world was presented with the insignia of the Legion of Honor from the hands of Emmanuel Macron on Thursday February 16 at the Élysée. Many left-wing elected officials, and more particularly the group of La France insoumise (LFI), point to the irony of the situation.
February 16 effectively marked a new day of mobilization of the transport, energy and education sectors against the pension reform, ardently defended by the President of the Republic. That day, between 440,000 (according to the Ministry of the Interior) and 1.3 million French people (according to the unions) were in the streets to pound the pavement.
A reward for Jeff Bezos who is going badly
Many have indeed criticized Jeff Bezos for having destroyed many jobs (from local shops in particular) in France, for the benefit of the e-commerce juggernaut Amazon. He is also accused of contributing to the degradation of the planet, due to the intense activities (deliveries and others) of his company. Left-wing elected officials also accuse the businessman of ” run away from tax by the billions ” For years.
This dubious timing decoration could also have a hard time getting through to public opinion, which is often very critical of those who are called the “super-rich”, especially in a difficult economic context for households. Everyone will give their interpretation of this symbolic reward.
Note that if, in the past, the Legion of Honor was in principle not open to people who were not French, it is no longer necessary to be of French nationality. ” Foreigners can be decorated with the Legion of Honor “, we read on the government website. ” However, they cannot become members of the Order of the Legion of Honor. »
Sources: Government, Point
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