Public Calls for Stricter Regulation of Multinational Corporations Amid Government Push for Deregulation
A survey shows strong support in France for stricter regulations of multinationals on ecological and human rights issues, contradicting government deregulation efforts.
Key Points
- • 80% of French citizens favor stricter regulations on multinationals.
- • 81% believe multinationals should be accountable for social and environmental impacts.
- • Widespread support spans political affiliations, even among right-wing voters.
- • Government pushes for deregulation, threatening existing corporate accountability frameworks.
A recent OpinionWay survey reveals that a significant 80% of French citizens support stricter regulations for multinational corporations concerning ecological and human rights issues. Published on June 4, 2025, the survey highlights a widespread demand for greater accountability, with 81% of respondents believing multinationals should be responsible for their social, environmental, and climate impacts, including those of their partners and subcontractors.
The survey further indicates that 86% of participants would like to see public authorities enforce greater transparency and prevent harmful impacts, even if this results in higher costs for businesses. Alarmingly, 90% of the public advocates for multinational corporations to engage more actively in climate change initiatives and adopt measures to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
Broad support for enhanced regulation spans various political affiliations, with over 75% of right and far-right supporters also favoring stronger oversight. This public sentiment starkly contrasts current governmental actions aimed at promoting deregulation in France and the European Union. The European Commission's proposed "omnibus law," introduced in February, threatens to weaken the corporate vigilance directive passed last year, which aimed to hold private actors accountable for their ecological responsibilities.
Critics, such as Reclaim Finance’s Olivier Guérin, assert that the government's rollback of these regulations undermines public demand for greater corporate accountability. Julia Faure from Impact France warns that without proper regulations, the business environment may gravitate toward the most unscrupulous actors. Additionally, the French government, backed by President Emmanuel Macron, is advocating for the exemption of companies with fewer than 5,000 employees from vigilance obligations, seemingly prioritizing deregulation over public interest.