EDF CEO meeting with far-right leaders sparks union condemnation

The CGT, a French hard-left labor union, has condemned EDF CEO Bernard Fontana following his meeting with far-right political figures Marine Le Pen and Sarah Knafo. In an open letter, the union argued that officially receiving representatives from far-right parties cannot be viewed as a ‘neutral or innocuous act.’

EDF management has defended the meeting, stating that the company maintains a policy of institutional dialogue with all presidential candidates regardless of their political affiliation. The utility provider clarified that these exchanges do not constitute support for the specific programs or candidacies of the National Rally or other parties.

The controversy highlights a shifting landscape in French corporate relations, as some major companies begin to engage with the National Rally following its rise in recent opinion polls.