“I’m going to do this in Lausanne, at the Université de Lausanne, and I’ll really enjoy meeting students and talking to them,” he added.
In his speech Le Maire made clear that he will still be living in France, which he called “my homeland, my life, my passion.”
Le Maire has been in his post since 2017, making him the longest-serving economy minister in modern French history. He and the rest of President Emmanuel Macron’s cabinet resigned in July following his party’s defeat in snap elections. Le Maire has been serving as a caretaker since then. New Prime Minister Michel Barnier, who was named last week, has yet to appoint Le Maire’s successor.
Asked whether he was leaving politics forever, Le Maire said he was “taking a step back from political life” to reflect and “get some fresh air.” Le Maire’s presidential ambitions are an open secret in France’s political circles.
In a written statement, the University of Lausanne told POLITICO that Le Maire will be teaching at the Enterprise for Society Center (E4S,) a joint venture of the University of Lausanne and other management schools and research centers.
Nicolas Camut contributed reporting
