On October 14, 2024, Sébastien Lecornu, Minister of the Armed Forces, was heard by the National Assembly’s Defense Commission on The choice to entrust the supercomputers, the AI of our armed forces, to Hewlett-Packard rather than to Bull. A decision by the executive branch that questions, among other things, national sovereignty.
« Lecornichon » (as Nicolas Sarkozy affectionately nicknamed him), he did not appear in person with his hands in his pockets. Well aware of the seriousness of the issues to be addressed, he seems to have done everything to ensure that the parliamentarians were not too sharp, relying on the influence of his parliamentary advisor, Mallo Trica, who had defused the situation on H24 the previous weekend. In the background, a well-crafted strategy aimed at softening the points of this sensitive hearing.
Lecornu, accused by some of wanting to disparage the French industrial offer, had relied on the advice of a Google star (Bertrand Rondepierre), promoted to head of AMIAD. This strategy quickly showed its limits. The French industrialists, well aware of the strategic stakes, are not fooled by the promotion of a pro-American vision, far removed from national interests. Those who defended the French offer tooth and nail, especially many former members of the’IHEDN, They saw (a coincidence?) The budget of this institution has been drastically reduced. Was it retaliation against the shipbuilders? The message was received as such.
Before the Defense Commission, Lecornu once again played with his mimicry that doesn’t make anyone laugh any more and didn’t hesitate to denounce what he calls the « lobby » who opposes his choices. In a clumsiness that seems almost revealing, the minister seems to discover the patriotism and expertise of the former members of the IHEDN, incorruptible and whose acerbic criticisms clash with his rigid approach. Having never really been questioned in his ministry, Lecornu (who had already not shone when he was in charge of the Overseas Territories) seems to have Having become accustomed to considering himself an expert in military matters, a title that many senior officers readily contest against him but in silence for fear of administrative reprisals.
This is not the first time the military cabinet has found itself at the heart of a storm. Already in August 2023, during the Atos case, Voices had been raised to denounce his complacency towards foreign investors, notably in the «2K» plan (Kretinsky-Kohler). Indeed, on August 16, 2023, we learned that Daniel Kretinsky had just acquired a crucial part of Atos, in the utmost political discretion. The Czech billionaire had been received by Alexis Kohler and Emmanuel Macron a few weeks earlier. The French flagship was handing over its advisory activities to Daniel Kretinsky while opening up 7.5% of the capital of the strategic subsidiary Eviden. The French and European takeover proposals were therefore rejected. The opponents of this takeover still remember it....
Today, the major leaders of the defense industry are dismayed. None of them dares to state it publicly., Lecornu is seen as a very likeable minister who is not afraid to make hilarious imitations that amuse Emmanuel Macron but largely lacks the necessary authority to lead the Armées at the moment.« He doesn’t have the qualities of a leader«He confides in a private person,« a powerful industrialist said.« He has to leave »says a great military leader. The milieu of the armies oscillates between disillusionment and exasperation. A senior officer, exasperated by what he perceives as profound incompetence, ironically suggests that Lecornu « Passes an ǪCM on AI ». The result would be impressive, ,"he is crying," he said.
And that’s where the problem lies. Lecornu, a former law student, seems ill-prepared to handle engineering projects of such complexity. In such serious matters that involve national sovereignty, where are the decisions actually made? Who makes them? On the basis of what interests?
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