PARIS – Frances new government minister for industrial recovery says he wants international steel giant ArcelorMittal out of the country.

ArcelorMittal infuriated many on the French left and beyond by announcing Oct. 1 that it planned to stop the furnaces at its plant in the northeastern town of Florange. It gave the French government 60 days to find a new owner.

Arnaud Montebourg was quoted in business daily Les Echos on Monday as saying the trouble “isnt the furnaces in Florange, its Mittal.” He said ArcelorMittals “lies since 2006 are overwhelming” and “we dont want Mittal in France anymore because they havent respected France.”

The comments could fan new questions about the commitment to free enterprise of Montebourg’s boss, President Francois Hollande. The Socialist Hollande defeated conservative incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy in May.