The Élysée doesn't like to use the word
rigueur, but François Fillon, a dour man in the best of times, did not shrink from calling the new plan "
le plus rigoureux" since 1945. He spoke repeatedly of the "effort" and "sacrifice" that would be demanded of the French. But actually it didn't sound all that rigorous: the
salade niçoise you eat for lunch will be taxed at 7% rather than 5.5; the renovated bathroom will cost 3,042 euros instead of 3,000 (according to France2);
the RSA will be reduced (an unkind cut, that) apologies, my mistake; dividends will be taxed a bit more; etc. It wasn't clear that France was actually sacrificing so much as making a show of sacrifice, to impress the ratings agencies.
This matters, of course, but does it matter quite as much as Fillon thinks? I think not. What really counts is the spread on Italian bonds, which rose today, increasing the pressure on French banks. Jiggering the budget has its uses, but what the market really wants is some sign of European coordination sufficient to enlist foreign investment. A few extra centimes on the jambon-beurre isn't going to cut the mustard (hold that culinary metaphor!).
Meanwhile, Hollande, interviewed on France2's JT 20h, clearly rejected Eva Joly's ultimatum and said he would support the EPR at Flamanville. First hurdle cleared on the way to becoming presidential.