Right-wing German politicians have criticized the European Commission for letting France break Eurozone rules on its budget deficit while being tough on Greece.
"Precisely now when we face huge challenges in our responsibility towards the European Union and the Eurozone it is important not to allow any exceptions," said Gerda Hasselfeldt, a leading figure in the Christian Socialist Union.
Currently France’s deficit stands at 4.1 per cent of GDP, and the commission has said that France can have until 2017 to get its budget deficit below the Eurozone limit of 3 per cent of gross domestic product.
Hasselfeldt added that there should not be a dangerous impression of wanting to apply double standards. For all countries big or small similar rules must apply.
Italy and Belgium have also broken the deficit rules, but European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said on Wednesday that no additional action would be taken against the two countries for now.