France may be next test of the euro’s foundations

FRANKFURT/PARIS, June 26 (Reuters) – “Because it’s France” was how Jean-Claude Juncker, European Commission president at the time, explained Brussels’ decision in 2016 to give leeway to the large, founder member of the European Union on the bloc’s budget rules.

That patience continued even as the EU endured a sovereign debt crisis that almost sunk the euro and forced smaller, more indebted nations such as Greece and Portugal to adopt swingeing austerity measures.