France government not directing Renault over General Motors: finance minister

French Finance Minister Thierry Breton reaffirmed on Thursday the government was not using its 15 percent stake in car maker Renault to influence a possible alliance with US rival General Motors Corp.
"I want to repeat that it's up to the companies in which we are shareholders ... to define their strategies. It's not for the state as a minority shareholder to say you have to do this or that," Breton told a news conference.
He had been asked what the government's view might be of an alliance between Renault, its Japanese partner Nissan and GM, an idea being pushed by GM shareholder Kirk Kerkorian.
"I respect governance," Breton added. "We haven't been asked about anything yet. What are you talking about? It's not because one shareholder has an idea that we have to take a position on what this shareholder thinks."
Renault said this week it was open to talks with GM if the US company wanted them. The US car maker's board is expected to discuss the idea at a previously planned meeting on Friday.