By Stuart Burns
France, the heartbeat of the European social ideal, is facing an existential crisis caused by the impact of the lockdown of its economy.
Nowhere is that more evident than in the Grand Est region of northeastern France, termed the heart of the country's auto industry, according to the Financial Times.
Jean Rottner, the region's president, does not see the local economy getting back to pre-crisis levels for two to four years.
Talk of a V-shaped recovery for much of Europe is thought to be laughable despite massive government intervention