France to push ahead with ‘Tobin tax’ proposal

Article reports that President Nicolas Sarkozy’s centre-right government, was pushing hard in January 2012 to accelerate the adoption of a financial transaction tax in Europe, and was aiming to introduce legislation in France itself as early as February 2012, ahead of other countries and before presidential elections in April 2012.

Separately, French socialist Francois Hollande launched his presidential campaign in earnest on the 4 January 2012, accusing Nicolas Sarkozy of running the economy onto the rocks in his strongest attack yet on his conservative rival.

Stung by criticism he was failing to tackle Sarkozy head on, the usually avuncular Hollande decried his opponent as a 'president of the privileged' whose five years in office had been marred by economic and moral blunders.

ESO: Background information: Barroso backs transactions tax http://www.europeansources.info/record/barroso-backs-transactions-tax/

ESO: Background information: Sarkozy accused of picking easy target http://www.europeansources.info/record/sarkozy-accused-of-picking-easy-target/

France24, 4.1.12: Socialist rival Hollande attack Sarkozy on economy http://www.france24.com/en/20120104-presidential-rival-socialist-hollande-attacks-sarkozy-economy-france-election-2012

EurActiv, 5.1.12: French minister says financial tax expected in 2012 http://www.euractiv.com/euro-finance/french-eu-minister-ftt-implemented-2012-news-509975

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