Roland Lescure denounces Russian takeovers of French assets in Russia as a hostile act

Roland Lescure denounced this Friday, September 25, the recent takeovers by Moscow of the assets of French companies still established in Russia, such as Auchan and the former Leroy Merlin, describing them as a “hostile” act towards France. “It is a hostile act against France, against French companies which were not in the sectors which were affected by the sanctions”, lambasted the Minister of the Economy on France 2, hoping that these takeovers would be “cancelled”.

Last week, the Russian authorities placed under “temporary administration” the assets in Russia of the Russian subsidiary of Auchan and the former entity of Leroy Merlin, but also those of the Swiss Nestlé, citing their membership in “unfriendly” countries supporting Ukraine. “This will in no way prevent us from continuing to put pressure (...) on Russia” in the war that the latter is waging against Ukraine, insisted Roland Lescure, denouncing “economic blackmail”.

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In the wake of the Russian announcement last week, France called on Moscow “to reverse” its decision and claimed to be “in close contact” with the companies concerned. Beyond the conviction, Roland Lescure mentioned, as a means of recourse, the “international courts”, while conceding that “at this stage, obviously, this (could) make you smile”. The assets concerned, belonging to Auchan, the former Leroy Merlin and Nestlé, were entrusted to the Russian company “LEV. Management”, which according to the Russian investigative media Novaya Gazeta Europa was founded at the end of 2025 and is headed by Andrei Krayushkin, a general in the Russian Interior Ministry.

A reduction in fuel taxes, “not for tomorrow”

In addition, Roland Lescure returned to the interview with Emmanuel Macron Thursday evening on TF1 and France 2, in particular on the fuel crisis. The Minister of the Economy confirmed that the reduction in taxes on gasoline and diesel was “not for tomorrow”. The tenant of Bercy recalled that such a measure would cost the State dearly and that it would therefore have to be financed. If there must be a reduction in taxes, it would rather be “next year”, he concluded.

The minister also spoke of the potential economic benefits of Pope Leo XIV's visit to France from September 25 to 28. “There is a match” between the economic fallout caused by Céline Dion’s concerts in Paris, of the order of a billion euros, and those generated by the pope, which should amount to “several hundred million euros”, indicated Roland Lescure.

Leo XIV arrived this Friday at 10 a.m. in Paris for a visit which will also take him to Lourdes and Metz, after two days in the capital. “Obviously, this has significant economic benefits. It’s several hundred million euros,” on “catering, local commerce,” Serge Papin had already estimated on Franceinfo. In “Lourdes, the second largest hotel city in France”, “all the hotels have been full since the end of August”, he added.