Audio By Carbonatix
France’s Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said he has not signed off on a 5 billion euro ($5.47 billion) state-guaranteed loan to help Renault (RENA.PA) cope with the fallout from the coronavirus, and that discussions continued.
Le Maire told newspaper Le Figaro that the government was seeking commitments from carmakers in three areas in return for help: electric vehicles; the fair treatment of sub-contractors; and that they base hi-tech activities in France.
“Renault is fighting for its survival,” Le Maire said in the interview published late on Thursday. “I haven’t yet signed the loan.”
Sources told Reuters on Monday that Renault had reached an agreement on the loan with banks and that it should be submitted to the board of directors soon, before being formally approved by the finance ministry.
Le Maire said France’s response to the worst depression since World War Two totalled 450 billion euros in aid and state guarantees - 20% of France’s annual national output.
The government forecasts the euro zone’s second-biggest economy will shrink at least 8% this year. Its budget deficit is set to hit a post-war record of 9% of economic output this year.
The European Union has granted member countries all the fiscal leeway they need to deal with the economic impact of the coronavirus, enabling governments to open the spending taps and wave aside EU budget rules that limit government borrowing.
There is no time limit set in the flexibility clause allowing this. Nonetheless, Le Maire said he hoped the rules would remain suspended in 2021.
Latest Stories
-
The dangerous contradiction at the heart of Ghana’s resource nationalism debate
1 second -
Assin Kyekyewere Court acquits 3 men in attempted robbery trial
3 minutes -
Mobile Money Fintech shareholders approve Q1 dividend at Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM)
7 minutes -
BoG extends deadline for IMTOs registration; warns IMTOs that fail to register
7 minutes -
Asante Gold to reforest 800 hectares of degraded Tano-Suraw Forest land
12 minutes -
Playback: Newsfile discussed Wontumi’s plea deal, Sedina Tamakloe’s woes, Afari Hospital standoff, Mahama rating
31 minutes -
GSE indices maintain positive momentum in May 2026, but 12 stocks record losses
32 minutes -
Mahama’s approval ratings dip reflect public mood, not surprising — Bomfeh
51 minutes -
Dr Arthur Kennedy slams NPP over failure to complete Afari Hospital, demands apology
1 hour -
Kwabena Bomfeh urges gov’t to intensify reshuffles and complete stalled health projects
1 hour -
Akyem Kotoku seeks stronger Parliament- traditional authority collaboration
1 hour -
HR practitioners urged to play strategic role at workplaces
1 hour -
Ghana must prioritise local cashew processing to unlock jobs, boost export earnings – ACPG
1 hour -
CIHRM urges HR professionals to uphold ethics and accountability as Act 1020 takes full effect
2 hours -
Ghana pitches upstream oil and gas opportunities to Canadian investors at Global Energy Summit
2 hours