Still on board

A YEAR ago, though it had long been the most enthusiastic sponsor of Europe's single currency, France looked as if it might be suffering a serious bout of euro-scepticism. Public-sector strikes at the end of 1995 set off a wave of doubts about the desirability and feasibility of abandoning the franc in favour of the euro. It was “not worth breaking the country” just to create the European coin, more and more French people were muttering. Misgivings about a loss of French sovereignty and German domination linger. But, with just a year to go before the first joiners are due to be picked, most of the French are now pretty sure that monetary union will go ahead, on time, with France to the fore. And most of them think that, on the whole, the single currency will be good for their country. Helmut Kohl's decision to run for office again, coupled with hints that Germany may interpret the Maastricht criteria more flexibly than it has previously promised, has strengthened this view.