Economics Nobel ‘thumbs nose at French bashing’, says PM
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls on Monday hailed the country’s two Nobel wins this year and, in a dig at certain Anglophone businessmen, politicians, and right-wing media, added that it was a slap in the face to all those who criticise France.
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"After Patrick Modiano, another Frenchman reaches the top: congratulations to Jean Tirole," Valls tweeted after the Nobel economics prize was announced, adding that it "really thumbed the nose at French bashing."
Modiano's win for literature last week was already seen as a boost for a nation in the doldrums with a stagnating economy and deeply unpopular government.
Valls hashtagged his twitter remark #fiersdelafrance ("Proud of France"), after previously hitting out at the gleeful crowing of newspapers and businessmen over the supposedly morose state of the nation.
France has endured numerous blistering attacks. Maurice Taylor, head of US tyremaker Titan International, slammed the French working culture, and a mocking British Prime Minister David Cameron pledged to “roll out the red carpet” to French business people when the Socialist government introduced a 75 per cent income tax rate for incomes over €1mn.
Andy Street – director of leading British retailer John Lewis – recently described the country as "finished", recommending investors pull out their money quickly. Street later issued an apology for the remarks.
On a trip to London earlier this month, Valls slammed the "bias, prejudices and attacks" on France in the British press.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, REUTERS)
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