French Industry Minister Rejects Poll Backing Nuclear Withdrawal

French Industry Minister Eric Besson rejected the findings of an opinion poll that called for the gradual phasing-out of the country’s 58 nuclear reactors.

“I don’t think it would be a good thing for the French, for our economy, for employment and for our competitiveness and our purchasing power” if the country abandoned atomic power, Besson told RMC radio today. “What would be the cost in terms of energy independence?”