My french colleague's former father in law is a cab driver in Paris. What an arrogant aggressive jerk from all the stories I've heard.

Didn't mind literally throwing client out of the car in the middle of the highway because he didn't like something he said about politics. Frequently blocking highway exits with his taxi due to some protests or other, burning tires on roads (which damages them apart of other issues with this).

But yes he paid for taxi bouillon more than 200k euro, they are 3 who split it among themselves. So one can expect that folks in such a position will do literally anything to defend their status, legal or illegal.

As a French, I've taken French taxi maybe like 20 times in my life (Paris & Rennes), and never had any issue with them (granted it was largely post-Uber, so maybe they improved because of it). I took ubers few times, it didn't feel any better than taxis.

If this is true, why hasn't he made it public long before now that he was essentially lobbying within government in support of Uber's illegal operations?

This is my favourite taxi in France:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0152930/