Pierre-Edouard Stérin is a Belgian tech entrepreneur. As a self-described introvert, he has become the most significant financial player in the movement to restore traditional conservative French values. Stérin has no faith in the life (mœurs) of court and city. Instead, he is all in on the fight for his country’s future, one he believes desperately needs to be awakened. He is famous for his radical rationalism. He even goes so far as to rank everyone he encounters—his wife, the mother of his five children—on a scale from 1 to 10 in an Excel spreadsheet.
Stérin is an alum of the highly selective École Polytechnique, France’s top engineering school. Despite starting out humbly selling vouchers as gifts he was able to parlay that fortune into e-commerce, health, hospitality and technology-enabled successes. Make no mistake—despite his wealth, influence, and vision, he has no personal political ambitions. Rather than imposing his will, he wants to leverage his financial might to reward policies that match his vision of a more sustainable, nimble France.
The election of Socialist President François Hollande in 2012 sent shockwaves through Europe, and in short order Hollande promised tax increases on the rich. This prompted Stérin to become an expatriate. This action enabled him to escape high taxes and give back to his homeland through philanthropy and political ventures.
A Mission for France
To that end, Stérin recently made a big picture commitment of up to €150 million. This funding will go to projects aimed at building the right-wing forces in France. To respond to what he perceives as existential threats to French society, he launched an initiative francophone “Périclès” as an alternative to debate. These threats are socialism, wokism, Islamism and immigration. Stérin considers these systemic issues to be the root of his country’s troubles. His ambition is to forge a new political elite that can return France to the glory days of yore.
While Stérin has expressed admiration for those who engage in politics, calling it “a noble thing that demands a great deal of personal sacrifice,” he is clear about his role as a financial backer rather than a frontline political player. “I don’t support one candidate or another,” he stated, emphasizing his desire to remain in the background while championing conservative ideals.
Stérin’s operation is well-funded, but he fervently rejects any implication that he is angling behind the scenes to help the National Rally party come to power. He considers any such claim preposterous. “Immigration aside, I have few beliefs in common with the National Rally,” he remarked, indicating that while he may vote for them in a pinch, his ideological leanings do not fully align with their agenda.
The Conservative Vision
Stérin refers to his political philosophy as “liberal conservatism,” which mixes economic libertarianism and social conservatism. It is a fusion of libertarianism’s longing for economic freedom with social conservatism’s wish to hold the line on social issues. He loudly promotes the need for a business-friendly climate that encourages innovation, entrepreneurship and job growth at the same time he pushes an agenda of cultural conservatism.
The €150 million that Stérin has pledged will go to projects that produce better projects that advance these ideals. His goal is to influence today’s highly fractured and polarized political landscape. Simultaneously, he attempts to develop a new generation of leaders who will continue his vision for La France. Internal documents from Périclès emphasize the need for “the successful exercise of power at the earliest opportunity” to achieve these goals.
Stérin’s ongoing dedication to philanthropy solidifies him as one of France’s most active benefactors. He regularly pursues opportunities to fund initiatives that align with his values and priorities. At the same time, he’s clearly trying to avoid the appearance of crass political horse-trading. “How can I serve you?” has become a signature inquiry of his when approached by operators inside our budding and quickly-growing conservative movement.
Living Outside the Political Bubble
For this reason, Stérin has decided to base their activities in Belgium. Such a choice allows him to remain removed from the French political caste, but he nonetheless plays an outsize role in its discussion. The experience of living abroad has certainly stoked his love for France. Instead, he views it as the strategic decision, one that would let him serve his country better from afar.
Reflecting on his move, Stérin remarked, “I left France, with regret, to better serve my country.” He certainly demonstrates a profound vision for molding the French state and populace to his will. Rather than going through established political processes, he has adopted a philanthropic strategy.
It is frequently asserted that Stérin is actively using his fortune in support of what he believes to be a noble cause. Observers are just as eagerly watching how his investments will shape the future of France’s political landscape. Yet his ambition to “serve and save France” resonates deeply with many. Like him, they are gravely worried about the path their country is taking.
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