Patrick Chase, the senator who became the “Vice Secretary” of Telecom

At the age of 60, the senator from Ain Patrick Chaize (Les Républicains) could not have imagined the uproar on TikTok. All that was needed was the fifty-second video clip taken from the March 22 Senate hearing of Xavier Niel, Free’s owner (and individual shareholder of the company). the world), so that his name circulates in the social network. We see the boss of a telecommunications operator, who in January 2022 promised to freeze his prices for five years, choke after a senator’s remark about him. “Aggressive pricing policy”.

The video has ten million views. Xavier Niel even went there with his clickbait: He retweeted a message that relayed the sequence, laced with numerous comments against the senator. “Who Wears Orange”according to one of them. Afterward, the Free founder emailed Mr. Chase to say he regretted the excitement.

Ain’s senator admits that “Xavier Niel’s retweet about video editing was not very nice” But he says don’t blame him: “I have a lot of respect for people who have made it from scratch and I appreciate their faith. »

“His proposed law is a disaster”

First of all, he will not be swayed by the black anger of the Free boss: Mr. Chaise has already alienated the entire sector. Reason ? The draft law on the quality of fiber optic connection. Operators do not want to hear this, they are worried about losing control of this project and paying compensation to disconnected subscribers.

Digital Transition and Telecommunications Minister Jean-Noël Barot and the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications, Mail and Press Distribution (Arcep) are also not entirely convinced of the effectiveness of such a law. But the senator can count on the support of his colleagues: his proposal was unanimously accepted by the Senate on May 2 and is waiting to be placed on the agenda of the National Assembly.

“His proposed law is a disaster”On the condition of anonymity, fight the leader of the operator, without understanding why Ayin’s chosen representative “in the loop” on optical fiber. Would he take advantage of the subject of the general public for political enlightenment? “I’m at the end of my career and I’m very happy”Rejects the former mayor of Vonnas in 2008 and 2017, a city known for its three-star restaurateur Georges Blanc.

Would there be a law in his name? “I checked the box under the Digital Environmental Footprint 2021 Act”, he replies. And if it was then in the service of hidden interests? “He is insensitive to the lobby. He is just determined that the country has a quality network.Answers Philippe Le Grand, president of InfraNum, the federation of digital infrastructure professionals, yet “Not in favor of his bill”.