“FRANCE ‘NOT SICK MAN OF EUROPE,’ SAYS PARIS” (November 16, 2012)

Thus the Financial Times today. “Moscovici rejects concern country could be next crisis in focus,” elaborates the newspaper. What is the French minister of finance talking about? Well, he is responding to the current issue of The Economist, which officially comes out tomorrow, but which actually came out yesterday. On the main cover there is a bunch of baguettes tied together by the French flag and sprouting a burning wick on top. “The Time-Bomb at the Heart of Europe,” blares the title on the cover. This is the title of the main leader, as well. In addition, this issue contains a fourteen-page special report on France. As soon as I spotted the article in the Financial Times, I felt proud of The Economist. Only the mighty newspaper can get Pierre Moscovici reacting so fast. His letter to the editor will surely appear soon. For a moment, I even felt like returning to my favorite read of yesteryear. But only for a moment.