Reply #67: Royal stirs reaction with 100-point vision [View All]

[Ghost Dog]

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/d680bb5a-bad2-11db-bbf3-0000779e2340.html

Ségolène Royal received as many brickbats as backslaps on Monday. Business groups, economists and political opponents complained about the likely cost of the French socialist candidate’s 100-point manifesto, while commentators cheered the renewed momentum it gave her presidential bid.

Eric Besson, Socialist economic spokesman, said her plans to increase the minimum wage, boost pensions, raise spending on education, health and justice, while upping state hand-outs for research, first-time house buyers and the young would cost up to €35bn.

Mr Besson said the manifesto, including expected savings and extra income, would keep the overall tax burden stable and cut France’s debts.

Libération, the leftwing newspaper, said: “Ségolène Royal has found her voice,” echoing the view of most commentators that her two-hour speech on Sunday had relaunched her campaign.

But analysts said she looked set to continue the Keynesian tax-and-spend habits of the French left.

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