Pension: Macron defends pension reform in TV speech

French President Emmanuel Macron defended his controversial pension reform in a televised speech. There was no alternative to raising the retirement age from 62 to 64, Macron said on Monday evening. Otherwise the contributions would have had to be increased or the pension level reduced. “Will this reform be accepted? Apparently not, and despite months of consultations no consensus could be found and I regret that,” Macron said. He announced that he would approach unions and employers.

The state must better deal with the anger of the citizens about rising prices, said the President. “No one can turn a deaf ear to the demand for social justice and the renewal of our democratic lives.” He wants to bring employers and trade unions together to discuss higher wages, a better distribution of wealth and greater integration of older people into the world of work.

Macron, whose camp no longer has an absolute majority in parliament, called for new coalitions and alliances – without naming specifically with whom. The pension reform also became a debacle for him because the conservative Republicans in the opposition gradually withdrew their support for the project. Macron then pushed the reform through without a final vote in parliament, which only increased the anger of opponents. In the meantime, the reform has come into force through his signature. The unions announced further protests.

Macron announced that he would take stock for the national holiday on July 14. “Ahead of us are 100 days of appeasement, unity, ambition and action in the service of France.” Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne is due to start drawing up the plans next week.