From Doctor Botox to Facebook’s top lobbyist, meet the folks who left politics to cash in – POLITICO
Doctor Botox
Olivier Véran, former French government spokesperson and former Minister of Health, recently announced his next career at the Clinique des Champs-Élysées in Paris. For Véran, who was a neurologist before entering politics, returning to medicine is not so surprising. What shocked – and caused some outcry in the medical community – was his decision to join a high-end clinic specializing in cosmetic medicine and surgery. Véran was quick to defend his choice, saying he would not perform cosmetic surgery procedures and would instead focus on cosmetic medicine. “I will not touch the penis or the buttocks, and I will be very far from breast implants,” he promised. This did not prevent Le Point from christening him “Doctor Botox”.
Former British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has found a niche – and big money – in Silicon Valley. As Meta’s president of global affairs, he manages the company’s relationships with governments, a thankless task at a time when Facebook has become synonymous with political misinformation. In 2021, the Guardian dubbed him “the downfall man” for the company’s problems. At least he made enough money to buy several luxury homes.
Darling Darling
Former French Minister of the Economy, socialist Arnaud Montebourg has been creative in his post-political efforts. After resigning in 2014 and trying – unsuccessfully – to win the Socialist nomination in the 2017 presidential election, Montebourg turned to… honey. In 2018, he founded “Bleu, Blanc, Ruche”, a company that produces and markets 100% French honey while focusing on the repopulation of bees. And it seems pretty good at it: it won the environment prize at the 2021 “Made in France” show.
Politices
