The French President, Emmanuel Macronhas shown today in an interview the fear that in France there would be a violence similar to that of “Brazil or the United States” in reference to the protests in French cities against the pension reform that will raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 years. “We cannot accept neither rebels nor factions ”insisted the president, who expressed his confidence that the pension reform approved by Parliament will enter into force before the end of the year.
“Do you think that doing this reform makes me happy? No!”, affirmed the President of the Republic in the interview on the two main television networks in the country. Macron defended that a pension reform is “necessary”. “This reform is not a luxury, it is not a pleasure, it is a necessity” he argued, considering that “the project of all the oppositions is the deficit”.
“It would be good for 1.8 million people see their pension increased by about 600 euros per year“, assured the president. Macron assured that the reform now depends on the opinion of the Constitutional Council, but not on the street protests that, he said, “we must respect when they are peaceful but not when they resort to extreme violence.”
Although he acknowledged that “you have to listen to the anger” of the citizens, warned that “an overflow will not be tolerated”, because “legitimate anger” against the reform does not justify violence. Faced with the proliferation of strikes and blockades in some economic sectors, he said that “blockades must be lifted when they affect economic life”, for example in refineries and fuel distribution or garbage collection.
“That there are demonstrations to say that we are against it is legitimate. But when there are blockages you have to know how to lift them: That is why I asked the government to negotiate as much as possible, and if not to requisition”, Macron detailed about the social movement against him. “The republican order is what I want”maintained the head of state, who added that the French are “right” to be tired, and wanting “normal life” to resume as soon as possible.
The only mistake that Macron admits
Macron only acknowledged one mistake in this entire process: that of “failing to convince” citizens of the need for pension reform, which according to figures the Government will enter a deficit that will grow to 12,500 million euros by 2030. “Do you think I like to make this reform? No,” he assured, before insisting that lowering pensions or raising the contributions of companies and workers has been ruled out (“we are one of the countries with the highest taxes in Europe”), which that only leaves the option of working more. “No union force has proposed compromises. They have told us that they did not want any reform”he insisted.
The president assured that he understands the anger of many citizens when they see the extraordinary benefits of large companies and affirmed that he will ask the government to force them to “participate in the collective effort” of the nation.
Your three priorities
Macron set out three priorities for his presidency: first industry and work, where he intends to “win the battle for low-carbon industry”, then the restoration of “republican order” based on the creation of 200 police stations, and finally the living conditions, with an emphasis on education, health and ecology.
Reactions to Macron’s interview
Macron’s statements were described by the French union leader Philippe Martínez as “contempt for the millions of people who demonstrate”. Martínez expressed his concern because “the President of the Republic is sure of what he is doing on his own, and that is serious.”
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