French government: LVMH is pride of country but we understand Arnault's anger

PARIS (Reuters) - Luxury goods giant LVMH is the price of France, but the government nevertheless understands the anger expressed by LVMH boss Bernard Arnault regarding French taxes, said a government spokeswoman on Wednesday.

Arnault said on Tuesday that the group was considering bulking production capacities in the United States, contrasting what he perceived as a "wind of optimism" in the United States with the "cold shower" of France.

She added that tax rises were temporary and that the government remained pro-business.

(Reporting by Michel Rose and Makini Brice; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta)