The answer is… Non! Chaos continues in France as President Macron defends his hated pension reform programme and refuses to U-turn – despite admitting it had ‘not been accepted’
- Macron faces civil unrest after pushing through controversial pension reforms
- He regretted the reform was not accepted amid national protests and strikes
Emmanuel Macron tonight admitted that pushing France’s retirement age up from 62 to 64 ‘had not been accepted’ – but said there would be no U-turns following weeks of strikes and rioting.
The embattled President appeared on a pre-recorded nationwide TV broadcast on Thursday evening, three days after his controversial pension plans passed into law without a parliamentary vote.
‘Is this reform accepted?’ asked Mr Macron during the 12-minute address. ‘Obviously not. In spite of months of negotiations, no consensus was reached, and I regret that.’
He said he ‘heard the anger’ of the French, adding ‘no-one can remain deaf to it.’
French President Emmanuel Macron during a televised address to the nation, made from the Elysee Palace, after signing into law a pensions reform, in Paris, on April 17, 2023
Pedestrians walk past burning bins following a concert of pans to protest during French President Emmanuel Macron’s televised address to the nation, in Paris on April 17, 2023
President Macron said there was ‘anger at jobs which, for many French people, no longer allow them to live well, in the face of rising prices for fuel, shopping, canteens.
‘There is anger because some have the feeling of doing their part, but without being rewarded for their efforts, neither in wages, nor in effective public services.’
READ MORE: Carnage in France: Battles on the streets of Paris as riot police fire tear gas and charge at pension protesters after Macron’s hated bid to raise retirement age is approved by top constitutional court
But insisting there would be no change in his policies, Mr Macron said the reform was ‘necessary to guarantee pensions and produce more wealth for our nation’, and for France to stay in line with European neighbours.
Within minutes of Mr Macron’s speech, illegal protests were underway, as riot police fought to restore order.
A crowd marched through the Republic area of Paris chanting ‘Macron resign!’, while lighting fires and smashing windows.
There were similar scenes around Hotel de Ville – Paris city hall – where another illegal protest formed.
Some banged casserole dishes – a traditional means of showing anger in France, while others through projectiles at the police.
Police in Marseille, Toulouse and Nantes reported similar disturbances.
Last Thursday, a mob stormed the Paris headquarters of luxury group LVMH, which is run by Bernard Arnault, the richest man in the world.
There was also widespread rioting around Bastille Square – scene of the original 1789 Revolution – and in other cities and towns across the country.
Opposition politicians and unions spent the weekend attacking they see as the arrogant imposition of a two-year rise in the retirement age to 64 in the face of its rejection by an estimated 70 per cent of the population in opinion polls.
Marine Le Pen, of the far-Right National Rally, called for either a referendum on the reform, the dissolution of parliament, or Macron’s resignation.
Élisabeth Borne, the prime minister, had been ‘totally destroyed’ and the government had lost all credibility, said Ms Le Pen.
And Olivier Faure, leader of the Socialist party, said the opposition was ‘not ready to move on to other things’.
Protesters march by burning garbage cans as they demonstrate after French President Emmanuel Macron tried to diffuse tensions in a televised address to the nation on Monday
French police operate during a demonstration following a special address to the nation by Macron in Paris, France, April 17
As sporadic protests took place around the country today, the trade unions urged the public to turn May Day workers’ parades on May 1 into giant protests against the pension reform.
‘It will be a tidal wave of historic proportions,’ said Sophie Binet, leader of the CGT union, said.
And Laurent Berger, head of the CFDT, the biggest union, said: ‘Let’s bring down the house on May 1.’
Britain’s retirement age is 66, in Germany and Italy it is 67, and in Spain it is 65.
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