France must seek greater economic independence after virus

A family watch French President Emmanuel Macron during a televised address to the nation, as the country eases lockdown measures taken to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Paris, France, June 14, 2020. REUTERS

PARIS: President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday he was accelerating France's exit from its coronavirus lockdown and that the crisis had laid bare the country's need for greater economic independence.

In a televised address to the nation, Macron promised that the 500 billion euro cost of keeping companies afloat and people in jobs during the worst downturn since World War Two would not be passed to households through higher taxes.