I don't think the French will want my sympathies,but I will give them anyhow. Some of the northern French towns now are forgotten: shops gone to outskirts,the once picturesque and thriving inner town centres deserted,run down,shabby. Its the ring doughnut picture as has been happening in GB. You get the impression that their industries have gone,with nothing to replace them but rain and awfulness. The Decathlons and Carrefour have replaced the local boulangerie and wotnot. Its all pretty sad. With little hope of any renewel it must be a wonder why criminality and drug taking aren't on the rise as like in America.
All the above is of indifference to the French political elite,and which mirror our own here in GB. Yes,they will voice concern and worry with the appropriate pained faces...but be assured whilst partying with their own and other monied peoples the above will be ignored up until and unless the despicables threaten their very being