The French President delivered a defiant defence of his controversial pension reforms today, arguing that France cannot afford to continue without an overhaul of the retirement system
Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right RN party, hinted that she endorsed the violent protests, saying she would not “extinguish the fire” of the demonstrations against the reform. Green leader, Marine Tondelier, accused Mr Macron of “using terms that are disdainful, even offensive”, adding that she was “chilled by the president’s display of self-satisfaction”. Olivier Faure of the socialist PS accused him of “emptying a jerry can on a fire he had already lit”.
Polls show that most French people oppose the reform, which raises the retirement age from 62 to 64, but Mr Macron said that if the pension system kept growing, it would create a deficit that would eat into public services like schools and the health sector. “When I entered working life there were 10 million retirees. Today there are 17 million. In the 2030s, there will be 20 million,” Mr Macron said. “This deficit means choosing to make your children pay.
Mr Macron’s comments came six days after securing approval for his reform plans without a parliamentary vote, and just two days after hisThe 45-year-old president said he hoped to bring France back to normal “as soon as possible” but urged the protesters to dial back their anger. “I respect them. They are defending their point of view. And it is protected by the constitution. But when they threaten elected representatives and use violence, that is not acceptable.
He recognised that the reform was not popular. “If it is necessary to accept unpopularity today I will accept it,” he said. “Given a choice between opinion polls in the short term and the general interest of the country, I choose the general interest of the country.” Mr Macron said that Elisabeth Borne still had his confidence as Prime Minister, and he defended the use of the article 49.3 procedure to ram the measure through parliament without a vote, saying it was “legitimate and democratic”, adding that he hoped the proposal would be implemented by the end of the year after being scrutinised by the Constitutional Council.
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