Paris: President Francois Hollande vowed on Sunday to fight France's deep-rooted "pessimism" in the face of a struggling economy, while admitting the country's rail network should be better maintained after a deadly derailment.
In an interview with leading television channels to mark Bastille Day, Hollande insisted that recovery had already started in the French economy, which entered a recession this year and has record-high unemployment.
The deeply unpopular Hollande defended his first 14 months in office, saying his goal was to give "new confidence" to the country amid polls showing deep gloom among the French.
"For years we have been the most pessimistic country in Europe, in the world even. There are countries at war that are more optimistic than we are," Hollande told journalists from TF1 and France 2 television after attending the traditional Bastille Day military parade down the Champs Elysees.
France marked the holiday in mourning after Friday's rail accident on a regional line near Paris claimed six lives, and Hollande promised to make upgrading outdated lines a key priority.
"We must do much more to maintain traditional lines, existing lines," Hollande said, after officials complained of the country putting too much focus on its high-speed TGV lines.
With polls showing the economy and jobs as the country's top concerns, Hollande said France was already through the worst of its economic troubles.
"The economic recovery is here," he said, pointing to a pick-up in industrial production and slight recovery in consumption.
But with France struggling to get its deficit under control, Hollande could not rule out tax increases to help balance the budget.
"We will make -- we have made -- savings (in spending) and I will increase taxes only if absolutely necessary, ideally as little as possible," he said.
Hollande re-affirmed his promise to reverse the rise in unemployment by the end of the year, after the number of jobless in France hit a record 3.26 million.
"I am fighting" for jobs, Hollande said.
"There is the will, there is a strategy," he said, promising that 100,000 jobs for youth would be created by the end of the year.
He also said France would push ahead with controversial pension reforms expected in the autumn, which have already led to calls from unions for general strikes.
"Everyone will be called on to make efforts," he said, repeating that the number of working years required to receive full pension payments will likely increase.
In an interview with leading television channels to mark Bastille Day, Hollande insisted that recovery had already started in the French economy, which entered a recession this year and has record-high unemployment.
The deeply unpopular Hollande defended his first 14 months in office, saying his goal was to give "new confidence" to the country amid polls showing deep gloom among the French.
France marked the holiday in mourning after Friday's rail accident on a regional line near Paris claimed six lives, and Hollande promised to make upgrading outdated lines a key priority.
Advertisement
With polls showing the economy and jobs as the country's top concerns, Hollande said France was already through the worst of its economic troubles.
Advertisement
But with France struggling to get its deficit under control, Hollande could not rule out tax increases to help balance the budget.
Advertisement
Hollande re-affirmed his promise to reverse the rise in unemployment by the end of the year, after the number of jobless in France hit a record 3.26 million.
Advertisement
"There is the will, there is a strategy," he said, promising that 100,000 jobs for youth would be created by the end of the year.
Advertisement
"Everyone will be called on to make efforts," he said, repeating that the number of working years required to receive full pension payments will likely increase.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
France Railway Attacks Force New UK PM To Change Olympics Travel Plan Sabotage, Fires Across France Rail Network Ahead Of Olympics Opening: 10 Facts French Rail Network "Sabotaged" Ahead Of Olympics, 8 Lakh People Affected On CCTV, Murdered Woman's Last Moments In Bengaluru Hostel A House For Rahul Gandhi, Leader Of Opposition In Lok Sabha For BJP And Allies, Maharashtra Seat-Sharing Hits A Math Barrier Russia Working Hard To Reverse "Terribly Low" Birth Rate, Says Kremlin Case Of Indian Nurse's Death Sentence With Yemeni President: Centre Israel Army Preparing For "Decisive Offensive" Against Hezbollah Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.