France is one of the most powerful countries of the world. The country is a member
of the European Union. Today, the Economy and Politics of France play a pivotal
role in shaping the fate of the world at large. France Travel Guide gives you
a better understanding of the Economy and Politics of France.
France is a strong member of the G8 group, which is a formation of the leading
industrialized nations of the world. According to the surveys conducted in the
year 2005, the economy of France is the sixth largest in the world. The economy
of France is only behind that of countries like United States, Japan, Germany,
the People's Republic of China and the United Kingdom. On 1st January 1999,
France joined the league with 11 other European Union countries to initiate
the use of Euro as the national currency. It is seen as one of the historic
steps by the country. With the introduction of Euro, the French `Franc' was
completely replaced by Euro banknotes and coins.
Today, there are about 2.5 million registered companies that fall under the
category of private enterprises. Ownership of some of the premier infrastructural
sectors, such as the railway, telecommunication firms, aircraft, and electricity
is still controlled by the French government. However, from 1990 onwards, the
government is slowly relaxing its control over these key sectors through selling
off its holdings. This is evident in the fact that Air France, France Télécom,
and sectors like banking, insurance, and defense are gradually getting out of
strong government control.
The Politics of France follows the structure of semi-presidential representative
democratic republic. The country is headed by the President of France, who is
the head of the state. The French prime minister acts as the head of the government.
The political scenario constitutes of a multi-party system. The executive power
lies with the government. The legislature and the executive do not participate
in the functioning of the judiciary. Thus, in the face of its burgeoning status
as a world power, the top powers of the world keep a close eye on the course
of Economy and Politics of France.
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