Doliprane Drama: A French Farce or Serious Business?
Published on 14/10/2024 23:01
Ah, the sweet taste of irony—like a French pastry that’s gone rogue! The Sanofi group announced on October 11th that it’s flirting with the idea of selling its Doliprane production subsidiary to an American investment fund. Yes, you heard that right! Doliprane, the beloved painkiller, could soon be in the ‘hands’ of investors from the land of oversized fast food and reality TV. Hold onto your berets, folks; the French have gone on strike to demand that their precious Doliprane remains just that—French!
Strikes and Slogans: The French Way!
Picture this: employees at the Lisieux factory in Calvados packing their bags for a little protest adventure, all because they think the government should step in. Their motto? “Doliprane must stay French!” I don’t know about you, but when I hear ‘Doliprane’, I don’t just think of headache relief—I think of that je-ne-sais-quoi of national sovereignty! After all, if we sell off Doliprane, what will we have left? A country that can’t even handle its own aspirin!
Now, the French government is trying to smooth things over with a little ministerial visit to Lisieux—that’s Hospitality 101 for making employees feel less anxious! You’ve got to hand it to them; nothing says “we care” like a pop-in from the Minister of the Economy! With his most comforting smile, he reassured employees that the state does indeed have their backs. It’s like a sitcom where the bumbling government official tries to fix problems while tripping over their own policies—except this time, it’s not that funny!
Sovereignty and Sanofi: What’s the State Gonna Do?
Let’s talk business for a moment, shall we? Emmanuel Macron has weighed in, claiming that the Doliprane situation is a matter of “sovereignty.” Yet, what can be done? In France, foreign investments are generally about as welcome as a fly in your wine, but certain sectors—like food and healthcare—come with a side of regulations. Here’s the kicker: they often just negotiate compensation. So, whether it’s cash or kind, money talks, as usual!
Most of the time when the government says “We have to negotiate,” it’s not the employees they negotiate with; it’s the companies! In the world of big Pharma and finance, companies often prefer a little ‘sweetening the deal’ to dealing with the consequences of non-compliance. I mean, can you imagine the boardroom discussions? “Should we sacrifice Doliprane for a little profit? Or do we risk the wrath of French workers wielding baguettes?” Tough choices!
Conclusion: A Prescription for Unity?
In a world where your headache relief could be owned by someone sipping a cola billions of miles away, the Doliprane saga serves as a testament to the complexities of globalization, national pride, and our seemingly insatiable need for comfort—both physically and culturally. In the end, let’s hope that the state finds a way to keep Doliprane close to home without sacrificing the benefits of innovation, because we can all agree: we don’t need a headache on top of our headaches!
Watch the full report in the video above!
Published on 14/10/2024 23:01
Reading time: 1min – video: 2min Transfer of Doliprane: what can the State do? Transfer of Doliprane: what can the State do? (France 2)
The Sanofi group announced on Friday October 11 that it was negotiating the sale of the subsidiary which produces Doliprane to an American investment fund. Employees at the Lisieux factory, in Calvados, went on strike and demanded that the drug remain French. What can the government do?
In Lisieux (Calvados), Sanofi employees on strike have only one demand: Doliprane must remain French. According to them, the government must prevent the sale of their activity to an American investment fund which has just entered into exclusive negotiations. The executive seeks to ease the anxieties of employees. A trip by the Minister of the Economy was urgently organized to defuse the situation, with a slogan: the State does not abandon employees.
On the afternoon of Monday October 14, Emmanuel Macron considered that it was a question of sovereignty. But what can the State do? In France, foreign investments are free, but in certain sensitive sectors, such as defense, water or food, they must obtain prior authorization from Bercy services. Refusals are rather rare. Most often, the State negotiates compensation. Companies have every interest in accepting. In the event of non-compliance with agreements, sanctions are provided.
Watch the full report in the video above.