Bruno Le Maire

French minister’s steamy novel turns up heat on Macron

France — Link

Sex scene in Bruno Le Maire’s book provokes ridicule and anger among opposition politicians.

France doubles down on reform plans after Fitch cuts credit rating

France — Link

‘I believe that the facts invalidate the assessment’ by the ratings agency, says French economy minister Bruno Le Maire.

French minister urges EU to prioritize ban on Russian oil over gas

International — Link

France's Bruno Le Maire said: ‘Some European partners are still hesitant.’ 

French minister declares economic 'war' on Russia, then beats a retreat

International — Link

Finance minister Bruno Le Maire said sanctions would cause the 'collapse of the Russian economy', before backtracking. 

Mystery of Macron's brutal power play against France's antitrust authority

France — Investigation

Abruptly and without any warning, the Élysée decided that it was not renewing Isabelle de Silva's contract as the president of France's competition authority the Autorité de la Concurrence from October 13th. The decision, which has reportedly surprised and dismayed government ministers as well as many observers, was taken so late that a successor has not yet been lined up. The main theory to explain Emmanuel Macron's shock move is that the highly-respected De Silva was seen as an obstacle to the proposed merger between two private French TV companies, TF1 and the smaller M6, a tie-up that the Élysée favours. More generally, the independent Autorité de la Concurrence is also seen as a block to Emmanuel Macron's aim of creating large-scale national business champions. Martine Orange reports.

France ends blanket Covid crisis aid to businesses

France — Link

French economy and finance minister Bruno Le Maire has announced an end to across-the-board financial support to businesses to help them survive the downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic and resulting restrictions, detailing that future aid will only be made available on a case-by-case basis.

France cuts growth forecast as new nationwide lockdown starts

France — Link

 Finance minister Bruno Le Maire cut the country’s 2021 GDP growth forecast to 5% from 6%, following an 8.1% contraction last year.

How President Macron lost his economic gamble over Covid

France — Analysis

President Emmanuel Macron is said to have taken a “gamble” over health restrictions by not locking down France for the third time when the number of Covid-19 cases started rising once more in January. But the head of state has also gambled on the economy too. The French government thought that it could moderate the impact of the epidemic on economic activity through more limited but longer term restrictions. But as Romaric Godin reports, the French “economic resistance” proclaimed by the government could well turn out to be a painful illusion for the country and its public.

EU recovery fund ‘too slow and complicated’, says French minister

France — Link

In an interview with the Financial Times, finance minister Bruno Le Maire pushes for fiscal rules review to overcome ‘blockages’ in paying out grants.

French economy minister among 13,500 new infections

France — Link

News of Bruno Le Maire's positive test came as new COVID-19 cases in France went above 13,000 for the second day in a row.

Aid for French carmakers 'conditional on bringing home activity'

France — Link

French finance minister Bruno Le Maire on Monday said emergency government aid for the country's carmakers, an industry severely hit by the effects of the Covid-19 epidemic, is conditional to them bringing certain manufacturing activity home to France from abroad.

Minister says Peugeot-Fiat deal 'good news' for France

France — Link

Finance minister Bruno Le Maire said planned merger provided 'critical size to face the dual challenges of autonomous vehicles and electric cars'.

France orders EDF to tackle nuclear project failings

France — Link

EDF’s Flamanville 3 nuclear project in France is running more than 10 years behind schedule and has racked up billions of euros in cost overruns.

Privatisation of French lottery operator FDJ to begin in November

France — Link

The hitherto state-run French lottery operator Française des Jeux (FDJ) will begin opening up its capital to private investors as of November 7th, French economy and finance minister Bruno Le Maire has announced, amid expectations that the sales of shares will raise around 1 billion euros.

France vows to bar Facebook digital currency Libra in Europe

International — Link

French economy and finance minister Bruno Le Maire has said France will seek to prevent Facebook's digital currency Libra from rolling out in Europe, arguing that it represents 'risks of abuse of dominant position, risks to sovereignty and risks for consumers and for companies'.