French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday defiantly vowed to push through a controversial pension reform, saying he was prepared to accept unpopularity in the face of sometimes violent protests, and that he plans to enact the new law by the end of the year. Follow our live updates for all the latest developments. All times are Paris time (GMT+1).
3:24pm: Politicians slam Macron over interview
Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally group, slammed Macron’s interview on Wednesday, saying that the president has deepened the people’s feeling of “being disregarded”.
President ?ric Ciotti of Les R?publicains meanwhile accused Macron of not providing “enough solutions to the crisis”.
3:09pm: Very difficult for Macron to ‘turn the page’ on pension reform
It will be very difficult for President Macron “to turn the page” on the controversial pension reform, Professor of Political Science at Paris 8 University Yves Sintomer told FRANCE 24 as he discussed Macron’s televised interview.
Sintomer also raised the question of the possiblity of governing France against “millions of people in the streets”.
2:52pm: Macron defiant in interview over controversial pension bill
Unionists will not be happy over “what they have heard’, FRANCE 24’s French politics editor Marc Perelman said as he discussed Macron’s interview, saying that the latter’s hoping to “weather the storm”.
The final outcome will probably show in the next few weeks more “in the streets of France than in the halls of parliament”, he added.
2:11pm: Union leaders denounce Macron’s ‘disdain’ for protesters
Union leaders that have organised and led several demonstrations against the government’s controversial pension reform said Emmanuel Macron’s interview expressed contempt for protesters.
CGT Union General Secretary Philippe Martinez said the interview showcased the French President’s “hypocrisy”, adding that Macron’s comments showed “disdain for the millions of people who have been protesting”.
CFDT Union Gerneral Secretary Laurent Berger meanwhile accused Macron of lying about the union’s lack of compromise on the pension reform.
1:53pm: Watch the replay of Macron’s interview on pension reform
President Emmanuel Macron talks about pensions reform (C) FRANCE 24
1:38pm: Macron says prepared to accept unpopularity over pension reform
French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday said he was prepared to accept unpopularity as a consequence of imposing a controversial pensions reform that has sparked uproar and protests.
“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,” Macron said in a televised interview.
“If it is necessary to accept unpopularity today I will accept it,” he added, while acknowledging he had “not succeeded in convincing” the country over the reform.
1:29pm: Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne to continue to lead government
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne still had his confidence.
Two days ago Borne’s governement narrowly survived a no-confidence vote over a deeply unpopular pension reform.
>> After Macron’s use of ‘nuclear option’ on unpopular pension reform, what’s next?
“She has my confidence to lead this government,” Macron said in the TV interview, adding that he has instructed the Prime Minister to enlargen majority in parliament.
1:25pm: Macron aims to bring the country back to normal ‘as soon as possible’
French President Emmanuel Macron, in an interview with the TF1 and France 2 TV channels, said on Wednesday his government will aim to bring France back to normal “as soon as possible”.
Macron was speaking two days after his government barely survived a no-confidence vote over a deeply unpopular pension reform and as nationwide protests continued.
1:18pm: Macron says big companies need to ramp up contribution
Large corporations that reap super profits and operate share buybacks need to participate more in the current redistribution system, French President Emmanuel Macron said in a televised interview Wednesday, adding that the government is looking at an “exceptional contribution” plan.
1:06pm: Macron seeks to implement pension reform by ‘end of the year’
In a televised interview Wednesday French President Macron said he hopes the recently passed pension reform would be implemented by the end of the year after examination by the Constitutional Council.
“The longer we wait, the more it (the deficit) will deteriorate. This reform is necessary, it does not make me happy. I would have preferred not to do it,” he added.
12:24pm: Macron seeks to ‘calm things down’ with televised interview
President Emmanuel Macron will look to “calm things down” with a televised interview on Wednesday amid growing anger across France over his plans to raise the retirement age, a source close to the centrist president said.
The question is whether Macron can achieve this. Advisers indicated the 1200 GMT interview would not contain any major policy announcements.
Neither a government reshuffle nor snap elections are on the cards, but rather an attempt to regain the initiative with measures to better involve citizens and unions in decision-making, political leaders in Macron’s camp said.
Click on our player above to watch the interview.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP & Reuters)
