France calls for end to French bashing as it fights moroseness

Paris

SINCE President Francois Hollande took office about two and a half years ago, the outside view on France has more often than not been negative.

The Economist magazine called France Europe's "time bomb" in 2012; Newsweek magazine this year wrote about "The Fall of France"; UK newspaper The Independent caustically wrote about burnout "in the land of the 35-hour week, generous holidays and long lunches", while Andy Street, chief executive officer of British retailer John Lewis, in October said that France was "finished", calling it "sclerotic, hopeless and downbeat".

Ever-sensitive to the regard of others, the comments have made the famously pessimistic French question their way of life as they struggle with an economy that has barely grown in the last two years and joblessness at a record high. Concerned the gloom is turning into self-doubt, the nation's largest companies from phone operator Orange SA to the world's biggest cosmeti…