THE FIGARO ARCHIVES – On January 1, 2002, the French abandoned the franc for the single currency. A rather welcome change.
Everything was ready on December 31, 2001 for the big switch from the franc to the euro. The well-filled distributors, the equipped traders, the Pont Neuf illuminated in the colors of Europe. The recent victories of the French football team were still in everyone’s mind. Enough to concoct ambitious slogans: “Everyone has their role to play to make the euro a success” or “It’s round and it can still make us win as a team“.
In the early morning of 1er January, after a night of celebration, the French discover the tickets “to large doors and small bridges“. The happy babies born in the night are given a booklet A of 50 euros. The irreducible opponents of the European currency may scowl, the French abandon the good old franc with indifference tinged fatalism. By diving into its archives, Le Figaro looks back on this historic day.
Read alsoTwenty years later, three in four French people support the euro
A logistical challenge
To understand the government’s relief this 1er January 2002, We must remember the magnitude …
This article is for subscribers only. You have 89% left to discover.
To cultivate one’s freedom is to cultivate one’s curiosity.
Continue reading your article for € 1 the first month
Already subscribed? Log in