French President Gambles Re-Election on Tough Economic Plans

January 30, 2012 from Euronews

Are they daring or disastrous? Opinion is divided in France after President Nicolas Sarkozy unveiled tough economic measures that he hopes will get his country out of crisis and him re-elected. His proposals, outlined in a televised interview, are intended to boost France's competitiveness. They include reducing employers' social security contributions and dismantling the 35-hour working week.

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Nicolas Sarkozy

Nicolas Sarkozy is a French politician who served as the 23rd President of France from 16 May 2007 until 15 May 2012. Before his presidency, he was leader of the Union for a Popular Movement. Under Jacques Chirac's presidency he served as Minister of the Interior in Jean-Pierr... Explore this topic

France

France, officially the French Republic, is a unitary semi-presidential republic located mostly in Western Europe, with several overseas regions and territories. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine ... Explore this topic

French presidential election, 2012

A presidential election was held in France on 22 April 2012, with a second round run-off held on 6 May to elect the President of France. The incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy was running for a second successive and, under the terms of the constitution, final term in the election. The ... Explore this topic

Economy of France

This article addresses the current economic situation of France. For historical information, see Economic history of France. Economy of French Republic 200pxLa Défense is a major business district in ParisRank 5th (nominal) / 9th (PPP)Currency 1 euro (€1) = 100 centFiscal year... Explore this topic

François Hollande

François Gérard Georges Nicolas Hollande is the 24th and current President of France and Co-Prince of Andorra. He was previously the First Secretary of the French Socialist Party from 1997 to 2008, and the Deputy of the National Assembly of France for Corrèze's 1st Constituenc... Explore this topic

Austerity

In economics, austerity describes policies used by governments to reduce budget deficits during adverse economic conditions. These policies can include spending cuts, tax increases, or a mixture of the two. Austerity policies may be attempts to demonstrate governments' liquidi... Explore this topic

Politics of France

France is a semi-presidential representative democratic republic, in which the President of France is head of state and the Prime Minister of France is the head of government, and there is a pluriform, multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legisla... Explore this topic

Martine Aubry

Martine Aubry is a French politician. She has been the First Secretary of the French Socialist Party since November 2008 and Mayor of Lille since March 2001. Her father, Jacques Delors, served as Minister of Finance under President François Mitterrand and was also President of... Explore this topic

French Socialist Party

The Socialist Party is a social-democratic political party in France and the largest party of the French centre-left. The PS is one of the two major contemporary political parties in France, along with the centre-right Union for a Popular Movement. The party replaced the earli... Explore this topic

President of France

The President of the French Republic colloquially referred to in English as the President of France, is the head of state, supreme commander-in-chief of the French Armed Forces and holder of the republics' constitutions, the president's powers, functions and duties, and their ... Explore this topic

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Nicolas Sarkozy

France

French presidential election, 2012

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