‘France: 24% — the frightening poll’
PARIS | By François Bazin at Le Nouvel Observateur via Presseurop | “For the first time,” the Front National (FN) has taken the lead in a survey of voting intentions in France, reports an Le Nouvel Observateur.
France
France Wants to Reinvent Herself… But to Become What?
THE CORNER’S OP-ED | “La nouvelle France industrielle” (the new industrial France). Amid widespread resentment of the population, that’s François Hollande’s slogan for his new state-aided plan to boost the economy. The country has the fifth highest GDP in the world, although the effects of the economic crisis are deepening. The latest figures have brought the number of unemployed to more than three million. Will Paris succeed in taking the reins?
Hollande saves the day
MADRID | By J.P. Marín Arrese | Figures for the second quarter announced by the European Commission must have exerted a soothing effect on badly mauled Hollande. Growth is back in France, even if it only amounts to 0.5%.
France’s German Mirror
Project Syndicate | By Dominique Moisi| In the mirror of Germany, the French must ask themselves fundamental questions. Have they made the right choices in terms of leaders and policies in recent decades?
“France shows same weakness signs as peripheral economies”
MADRID | By Julia Pastor | Javier Flores, head of analysis at Asinver: “France’s economic system will not fall into bankruptcy, but the French model cannot be considered as a superpower any more.”
JP Morgan concerned about French deficit
Can Hollande salvage his country from the waves of austerity? JP Morgan analysts forecast a French deficit higher than the official target for 2013, which could trigger further budget cuts.
Wake up, lazy François! You are in time, says Barclays
France has been advised by international institutions like the IMF and euro partners like Germany to do its homework before it’s too late. The answer that has come from the Elysée Palace, unfortunately, isn’t auspicious.
Monsieur Hollande’s Crisis
LONDON | George Irvin, University of London | Just look at Club-Med before dismissing this option: the only way for France (and the EU) to grow is by increasing spending, particularly public spending which is the largest component of French aggregate demand.
Economic hazards of a moral French Budget
Why would president Hollande place such tax burden on the rich and corporate? He said France’s 2013 Budget was meant to demonstrate the euro zone that austerity and fairness can walk together the way out of the crisis. It looks as he’d rather protect a bloated state, though.
France faints in the core euro zone
The French PMI fell by almost four points while Germany’s expanded. That’s bad news for the euro zone, whose core is in for trouble as an isolated German engine cannot pull its neighbours out of recession.