Francois Hollande gives ex-Rothschild banker Emmanuel Macron top economics job August 26, 2014 Embattled French President Francois Hollande announced his new government yesterday, replacing his rebellious economy minister with former Rothschild banker Emmanuel Macron. The 36-year-old was previously Hollande’s economic adviser, and takes the place of Arnaud Montebourg, the firebrand socialist who trashed the government’s economic policies in a speech last weekend. Macron is viewed as a reformist [...]
As President Hollande purges leftist rebels, can his reform plans revive the French economy? August 26, 2014 Yannick Naud, portfolio manager at Sturgeon Capital, says Yes. The forced Cabinet overhaul and dismissal of three top ministers underlines the political crisis facing President Francois Hollande, as he seeks to balance pressure to reduce France’s budget deficit with domestic demands to revive a stalled economy. France can’t afford to wait any longer and should [...]
French government dissolved as Hollande goes on the offensive August 25, 2014 His name is rarely written without a negative adjective, usually beleaguered, but Francois Hollande is going on the offensive. The French President, whose approval ratings are unlikely to give pollsters vertigo, has responded quickly to a left-wing revolt in his cabinet. Manuel Valls, ally and prime minister, tabled the resignation of his government paving the [...]
Francois Hollande calls on ECB to fight deflationary risk in Europe August 5, 2014 French president Francois Hollande has implored the European Central Bank (ECB) to do more to support growth and employment and combat a "real deflationary risk" in Europe. In an interview with LeMonde, Hollande argued that "weak inflation too has negative fiscal consequences on revenues as well as debt. A lot will depend on the level [...]
Hollande’s solution to France’s economic tragedy is more failed corporatism July 28, 2014 THE UK is becoming a low-skilled, low pay economy, and ordinary workers aren’t sharing in the proceeds of growth.” How often do we hear this? Those who articulate these views, particularly on the left, argue that we need more state intervention in the economy: more “social investments” paid for by higher taxes, “worker representation”, industrial [...]
French economy lags Europe as Hollande fails to implement reforms June 20, 2014 France risks getting left behind in the Eurozone's economic recovery, as confidence in its markets has failed to pick in line with former crisis stricken southern countries. According to Berenberg's senior economist Christian Schulz, Paris needs a change of tack in order to keep up with the recovery in the EU's periphery, specifically Italy and [...]
Siemens woos Hollande over bid to buy Alstom June 16, 2014 EXECUTIVES from Siemens and Mitsubishi are meeting President Francois Hollande today as part of their bid for French engineering firm Alstom. The country’s government has positioned itself as a key player in the acquisition process, forcing would-be buyers to please it as well as Alstom’s shareholders before any sale can go through. Hollande’s intervention first [...]
Hollande hires Blairite PM in French reshuffle March 31, 2014 FRENCH President Francois Hollande reshuffled his government last night in the wake of disastrous local elections which saw the rise of the far right National Front. In a major U-turn the Socialist leader veered away from the left wing of his party, appointing a Blairite moderniser as his new Prime Minister. Manuel Valls had been [...]
Hollande hit by National Front gains in France March 31, 2014 FRENCH President Francois Hollande suffered a humiliating blow in yesterday’s local elections, as his ruling Socialist party lost out to both its mainstream right-wing rival and to the National Front (FN). Results last night showed Marine Le Pen’s anti-immigration FN had added 10 town halls to its victory last week in Henin-Beaumont, while over 100 [...]
Hollande: This is a difficult time January 14, 2014 BELEAGUERED French President Francois Hollande faced a new barrage of criticism yesterday, after announcing a programme of reforms that he hopes will lift the country’s stagnant economy. In his first speech of the year – and amid intense scrutiny of his personal life – Hollande announced plans for a “responsibility pact,” committed to being “as [...]