Paris — A government-led rescue of French nuclear group Areva and the wider atomic energy industry may cost the state as much as €10bn, but political support is almost certain whoever wins the presidential election in May. While taxpayers will ultimately pick up the huge bill, the main election contenders — from the Socialists and conservatives to the National Front — broadly back the bail-out, which involves splitting up Areva. Areva is also beset by technical, regulatory and legal problems. But given its importance to a nuclear industry that generates three-quarters of France’s electricity and employs 220,000 people, the next government probably has little choice but to stand by the scheme hatched under outgoing Socialist President Francois Hollande. France has a small but fierce antinuclear movement and some critics oppose investing billions in extending the life of ageing reactors. Nevertheless, nuclear energy is broadly accepted, even though Germany has decided to ditch it alto...
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