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Fin Min Talks Up Econ, But Strikes Still Pose Political Risk

FRANCE

Reuters carrying comments from French Finance and Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire. States that he welcomes the latest Q4 French jobs figures, the gov't is sticking to its goal of 'full employment' by 2027. Says he wants all countries in the eurozone to come back to having 'healthy public finances'.

  • Le Maire: 'France is taking the necessary steps to come back to sound public finances along with investments in the green economy'.
  • Le Maire: The French economy 'is doing well, low inflation rate in France and the country is creating jobs'.
  • States that 'we need a capital market union' to help SMEs.
Le Maire's positive comments come as major strike action continues across France. Hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets on 11 Feb in a 'day of action' against plans to raise the pension age from 62 to 64 (still below the European average).
  • France24 reports: "The unions said in a joint statement that they would call for a national strike that would "bring France to a standstill" on March 7 if the government "remained deaf to the popular mobilisation". Another day on protests and strike is planned on February 16."
  • President Macron's approval sits at multi-year lows, with the 66% disapproval recorded on 2 Feb the highest since Feb 2020. PM Elisabeth Borne's disapproval rating of 69% is the highest on record.

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