French Socialists Defend Mittal ‘Arm Twist’ With Nationalization
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French Socialists defended Industry Minister Arnaud Montebourg’s threat to nationalize an ArcelorMittal steel plant, saying the tactic spurred the company to maintain jobs and invest.
“Without the action of Montebourg, the issue wouldn’t have attained such a high profile,” Claude Bartolone, the Socialist president of the National Assembly, said late yesterday on France Inter radio. Montebourg helped “twist Mittal’s arm.” Environment Minister Delphine Batho on Europe 1 radio said Montebourg played a “decisive” role in preserving jobs and showed that the government will hold Mittal to his promises.