"I now they are a welfare state, but how do they have the money to afford it. Anybody know anything about the French economy."
Yes, it is socialism that will collapse upon itself in the next 5-10 years. Eventually, companies that are private will either leave or the government will take them over. At that point you can stick a fork in the French.
In the news two months ago it was announced that the French federal govt is borrowing money to makek payroll.