French economic growth is solid, says finance minister despite new COVID wave

PARIS - French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire sees no risk to call into questions the growth projection for the eurozone's second biggest economy, even as a fifth wave of COVID-19 infections and the detection of a new variant of the virus have shaken markets.

"Our forecast is solid", said Le Maire in an interview with French broadcaster France 2.

The minister added that the French government was ready to provide aid to companies suffering from pandemic-related restrictions and said France would "always be there, in whatever circumstances, to protect employees and companies, companies we see as strategic."