PARIS, France (AFP) – Ratings agency Fitch downgraded France from the top AAA credit rating on Friday, citing a heavier government debt load and poor prospects for growth.

In slashing France’s rating to ‘AA +’, Fitch became the last of the big three credit raters to knock France off the top perch. Last year Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s already downgraded France from the AAA club.

Photo Credit: AFP/Miguel Medina