“A romantic or classical view of the French approach would have been to say, 'It's a French company; let no one attack it. Let's block any merger. But the reality is Alcatel-Lucent is not a French company; it's a global company. Its main markets are China and the U.S. Its ownership is foreign; most of its managers aren't French.”

French president and economist, Emmanuel Macron has led France since 2017. His presidency is marked by efforts to modernize Europe through economic reform and integration, balancing progressive policies with pragmatic governance. He advocates for a stronger European Union and has positioned France as a key player in global diplomacy.