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7/21/13

French sceptical as Hollande points to economic recovery - by Sam Ball

François Hollande’s claim in an interview on Sunday that France is on the verge of economic recovery has been met with a heavy dose of scepticism from the country’s press and the President's political rivals..

For a country that has just officially entered into a triple-dip recession, it was a claim that was always going to raise a few eyebrows. During an interview with French television on Sunday - the French national holiday of Bastille Day - President François Hollande announced to the country that, finally, “The economic recovery is here”.

As proof, he pointed to an increase in industrial production as well as a small uptick in consumption in recent months.

However, weighed against negative growth in the first quarter of the year and record high numbers of unemployed - 3.26 million at last count - the President’s remarks have been met with a mixture of scepticism and even ridicule from his political rivals and in the French press.

During his interview, Hollande talked about combating his nation's apparent love of pessimism with a message of hope and optimism. But it seems that the general feeling in France is that the President is simply in denial.

Read more: French sceptical as Hollande points to economic recovery - FRANCE - ECONOMY - FRANCE 24

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