Macron Speaks To France Amid Fury Over Pension Reform

The French President; Emmanuel Macron, has acknowledged that the decision to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 has angered some, but he has underlined that it is necessary to maintain the pension system as the population matures.

After passing the measure on Saturday, Mr. Macron addressed the public on television and stated that “these changes were needed to guarantee everyone’s pension.”

They represent an effort, that’s true. Gradually working more means also producing more wealth for our whole country,” Mr Macron said.

He stressed that no consensus has been found with unions and other political parties.

“Has this reform been accepted? Obviously, no,” Mr Macron admitted.

With the rallying cry, “Macron won’t listen to us,” opponents of the reform urged people to smash pots and pans in front of city halls throughout France during his speech. We won’t pay attention to him.

Many people disagree with the reforms, claiming they are unfair and that the government should have instead increased taxes on the wealthy or employers. The French president, who is attempting to repair the harm done to his public image and politics by ramming the pension reform through parliament last month, will likely face a difficult battle beginning with the evening address.

Mr. Macron expressed his “anger” at rising costs and a lack of “enough good jobs for the French people.”

He stated that “nobody, and especially not me, can remain deaf to this demand for social justice and for our democratic life to be renovated” while praising the “calm and respectful manner” with which the majority of demonstrators conducted themselves.

Unions have already turned down an invitation to meet with him on Tuesday, but Mr. Macron said the door is still open to them. He declared that conversations on “key issues” such as raising employee wages, advancing professional careers, bettering wealth distribution, and enhancing working conditions, notably for senior people, will take place in the upcoming months.

The country is currently experiencing protests and strikes over the retirement age, which Mr. Macron hopes will end since his remaining four years in office would be threatened by these tensions.

Authorities in the cities of Dijon and Marseille have prohibited protestor meetings, citing a potential for “public disorder” according to the local prefectures.

13 people were detained earlier by Marseille police when gas and electricity meters were thrown around outside a government building during an unusual trade union protest over pension changes.

The meters were being dropped when there was a loud explosion, according to the police, and a guard officer was struck by flying debris.

Elisabeth Borne, the prime minister, declared on Saturday that the government will proceed with other reforms now that the pension law had been passed. She spoke to the national council of Mr. Macron’s Renaissance party, saying, “In the upcoming weeks and months… we are determined to accelerate.”

Notably, Mr. Macron pledged to lower the unemployment rate to about 5%. The unemployment rate in France recently dropped to 7.2%, the lowest level since 2008.

The government of Mr. Macron is weak in parliament, where his centrist coalition lost its absolute majority in the recent parliamentary elections. In order to advance his agenda, his government will require the support of lawmakers from all political factions.

That is probably going to be difficult given the atmosphere of discontent created by his retirement plans, which attack France’s prized social safety net.

Ms. Borne stated on Saturday that she was “convinced” that it was still “possible” to approve bills in parliament through case-by-case negotiations with lawmakers on the left and right. Since January, labor unions have been at the vanguard of protests, organizing millions of marchers for 12 days of nationwide rallies and strikes. They have vowed to continue their battle.

On May 1, which is International Workers’ Day, they called for yet another large-scale demonstration.

After the country’s constitutional body rejected sections of the legislation but authorized the higher minimum retirement age, the pension amendments were passed into law on Saturday.

That significant move, which was at the heart of Mr. Macron’s strategy and the subject of opposition demonstrations, was meant to serve as a showcase example of his second term.

But the French president has paid a heavy price for it: according to polls, his standing has plummeted to a four-year low.