French President Emmanuel Macron wades into heated debate over executive pay

Macron, who is campaigning against far-right leader Marine Le Pen, told Franceinfo radio that he was in favour of an EU-wide ceiling for top executives’ pay Paris**, France:** French President Emmanuel Macron waded into a heated debate about executive salaries on Friday, describing as “shocking and excessive” the 19-million-euro pay packet of the head of carmaker Stellantis. Macron, who is campaigning against far-right leader Marine Le Pen to hold onto the presidency at the ballot box on 24 April, 2022, told Franceinfo radio that he was in favour of an EU-wide ceiling for top executives’ pay. “People can’t be facing purchasing power problems… and then see these sorts of sums.” Debate is currently raging over the 19-million-euro payout for Stellantis chief executive Carlos Tavares for last year, when French carmaker PSA merged with Italian-US rival Fiat Chrysler to form Stellantis, the world’s fourth-biggest automaker. We need to convince our European partners to bring about a reform that will provide a framework for executive pay.” Earlier this week, French government spokesman Gabriel Attal characterised Tavares’ renumeration as “obviously not normal figures.” Le Pen, who is facing off against Macron in the second and final round of the presidential election on 24 April, 2022, has also been drawn into the debate.