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It's only controversial with short-term investors and executives who care more about using free money for some quick profit than about saving jobs.

We have a long history of companies abusing the government subsidies in France. So when the covid-specific aids were announced 2 weeks ago, there was a big concern that some companies would abuse them.

So yes, this announcement was really expected

The controversial part is that initially the government didn't pose any condition at all.

There was a huge public backlash, which is why the government changed their plan.

I'm not in France either, but it looks like it's newsworthy exactly because some government is doing something right for once.