The French president defended his highly-contested pension plan on national television on Wednesday, after his decision to use a special constitutional power to push the bill through.
**Here are the key moments from his television interview:**
**Pension reform to be implemented by the “end of the year”**
Macron told the journalists from France 2 and TF1 that his pension reform plan needed to be implemented by the “end of the year.” Macron said the bill would “continue its democratic path,” which involves a review by the Constitutional Council in the coming weeks. It can only be turned into law after the body gives its approval.The 45-year-old French president repeatedly said that he was convinced that the retirement system needed to be modified to keep the books out of the red. “That reform is not a luxury, it is not fun, it’s a necessity for the country,” he said.
**PM Borne to stay**
Macron rejected calls from the opposition to drop Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, saying she retained his confidence. Borne last week triggered Article 49.3 of the Constitution in the Assemblée Nationale to pass through the reform.”
She has my confidence to lead this government team,” he said in the televised interview. But he added he would ask her to “build a legislative program (…) to change things for our compatriots in a more tangible way.”
**Failed to convince the French public**
Macron “condemned” violence that has occurred after his decision last week prompted daily, scattered protests in cities around France, some degenerating into scuffles with police, including in Paris. He said in that the government aimed to return France to normal “as soon as possible.”He insisted that he “respects” unions and protests organized by opponents to show that they disagree with the pension plan. Still, he said “If it is necessary to accept unpopularity today I will accept it,” while acknowledging he had “not succeeded in convincing” the country over the reform.”
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.
Bypass the parlement, doesn’t listen the majority of the population, ignore the contestation and speak if democraty and majority. Bullsh*t !
If he ends up without his current job.. is there anyone else to replace him, other than Le Pen?
French elected a guy detached from reality they are living in.
That’s what he meant with Jupiterian Presidency.
What an asshole!
And what a piece of shit world woking till dying when we have all these machinery / robots / computers that can do a lot of work for us!
But hey, we need to work for the rich…
All I hear is “Let them eat cake!”
I think it’s understandable that he did that. What bugs me is that he was able to decide this alone.
may is just around the corner. it has been 55 years since the last hot may in france.
the last one brought france to a halt. maybe this one will too.
Shame the French aren’t anywhere near as violent as they used to be.
There is even bigger clown than Joe Biden
I think anyone with a basic understanding of the situation knows that France has to raise the retirement age, and if anything the tabled increase is insufficient.
France already has ridiculously high pension spending to GDP, more than 14% compared to 6% in the UK and 10% in Germany. They’re facing the same demographic reality in future decades as the rest of Western Europe, have among the highest life expectancies, considerable debt to GDP and sluggish growth.
France already has one of the highest tax burdens on the planet, and that would be nowhere near enough to pay for what their pension spending would be in a decade or two. What’s the alternative, head in the sand until things are at breaking point, and then nobody gets shit?
I may not always be the biggest Macron fan, but he’s competent, don’t bring down another government over a pension change that you know full well is necessary.
62 years for retirement in a country with 82 years average life expectancy. Out of curiosity, does average blue colar worker can actually aford going on retirement at 62 and live reasonably well till 82? If not, then only rich and upper middle class can afford this privilage, rest of the populace would have to find a job after retirement.
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The French president defended his highly-contested pension plan on national television on Wednesday, after his decision to use a special constitutional power to push the bill through.
**Here are the key moments from his television interview:**
**Pension reform to be implemented by the “end of the year”**
Macron told the journalists from France 2 and TF1 that his pension reform plan needed to be implemented by the “end of the year.” Macron said the bill would “continue its democratic path,” which involves a review by the Constitutional Council in the coming weeks. It can only be turned into law after the body gives its approval.The 45-year-old French president repeatedly said that he was convinced that the retirement system needed to be modified to keep the books out of the red. “That reform is not a luxury, it is not fun, it’s a necessity for the country,” he said.
**PM Borne to stay**
Macron rejected calls from the opposition to drop Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, saying she retained his confidence. Borne last week triggered Article 49.3 of the Constitution in the Assemblée Nationale to pass through the reform.”
She has my confidence to lead this government team,” he said in the televised interview. But he added he would ask her to “build a legislative program (…) to change things for our compatriots in a more tangible way.”
**Failed to convince the French public**
Macron “condemned” violence that has occurred after his decision last week prompted daily, scattered protests in cities around France, some degenerating into scuffles with police, including in Paris. He said in that the government aimed to return France to normal “as soon as possible.”He insisted that he “respects” unions and protests organized by opponents to show that they disagree with the pension plan. Still, he said “If it is necessary to accept unpopularity today I will accept it,” while acknowledging he had “not succeeded in convincing” the country over the reform.”
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.
**Read the full article here:** [**https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2023/03/22/macron-defends-french-pension-plan-says-should-be-implemented-by-end-of-year_6020305_7.html**](https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2023/03/22/macron-defends-french-pension-plan-says-should-be-implemented-by-end-of-year_6020305_7.html)
Bypass the parlement, doesn’t listen the majority of the population, ignore the contestation and speak if democraty and majority. Bullsh*t !
If he ends up without his current job.. is there anyone else to replace him, other than Le Pen?
French elected a guy detached from reality they are living in.
That’s what he meant with Jupiterian Presidency.
What an asshole!
And what a piece of shit world woking till dying when we have all these machinery / robots / computers that can do a lot of work for us!
But hey, we need to work for the rich…
All I hear is “Let them eat cake!”
I think it’s understandable that he did that. What bugs me is that he was able to decide this alone.
may is just around the corner. it has been 55 years since the last hot may in france.
the last one brought france to a halt. maybe this one will too.
Shame the French aren’t anywhere near as violent as they used to be.
There is even bigger clown than Joe Biden
I think anyone with a basic understanding of the situation knows that France has to raise the retirement age, and if anything the tabled increase is insufficient.
France already has ridiculously high pension spending to GDP, more than 14% compared to 6% in the UK and 10% in Germany. They’re facing the same demographic reality in future decades as the rest of Western Europe, have among the highest life expectancies, considerable debt to GDP and sluggish growth.
France already has one of the highest tax burdens on the planet, and that would be nowhere near enough to pay for what their pension spending would be in a decade or two. What’s the alternative, head in the sand until things are at breaking point, and then nobody gets shit?
I may not always be the biggest Macron fan, but he’s competent, don’t bring down another government over a pension change that you know full well is necessary.
62 years for retirement in a country with 82 years average life expectancy. Out of curiosity, does average blue colar worker can actually aford going on retirement at 62 and live reasonably well till 82? If not, then only rich and upper middle class can afford this privilage, rest of the populace would have to find a job after retirement.