Le Maire also told France Inter radio that France has managed to contain economic damage due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a televised address to the nation, President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that the country will start easing its COVID-19 lockdown this weekend so that by Christmas, shops, theatres and cinemas will reopen and people will be able to spend the holiday with their families.
(Reporting by Benoit Van Overstraeten; Writing by Matthieu Protard; Editing by Toby Chopra)
