"Necessary" pension reform, unpopularity assumed, renewed confidence in Elisabeth Borne: here are the main statements of Emmanuel Macron during his television interview on TF1 and France 2, Wednesday, in the midst of social protest.
Despite the dispute, President Emmanuel Macron considered that this reform was "necessary". "There are no 36 solutions" apart from raising the legal retirement age to 64. The Head of State wanted the flagship project of his second five-year term to come "into force by the end of the year" so that 1.8 million retirees "start to be increased by around 600 euros per year on average.
"Me, I am not looking to be re-elected (...) but, between the short-term polls and the general interest of the country, I choose the general interest of the country", affirmed the head of state". "If it is necessary behind to endorse the unpopularity today, I will endorse it".
"When the United States of America experienced what they experienced on Capitol Hill, when Brazil experienced what it experienced (...), I tell you very clearly", "we cannot accept neither the rebels nor the factions", assured the president.
Emmanuel Macron affirmed to "respect" the unions which "have legitimacy when they parade, when they demonstrate" but regretted that the latter did not present a "compromise proposal" on the text of the reform. He says he is ready to "re-engage" a dialogue with them on working conditions to hear "this need for justice" expressed in the street.
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne "has my confidence to lead this government team", declared the Head of State. He added that he had asked him "to build a legislative program, a government program (...) to have both fewer legal texts, shorter, clearer texts, to also change things for our compatriots in more tangible way. He also asked him to "expand the majority", without further details.
"The project of all the oppositions is the deficit", "there is no alternative majority", he hammered.
"There is still a bit of cynicism at work, when you have large companies that make such exceptional income that they end up using this money to buy back their own shares," said the head of the State. He intends to "ask the government to work on an exceptional contribution".
The immigration bill will be "cut" into "shorter texts" which will be examined "in the coming weeks" by Parliament.
03/22/2023 17:46:31 - Paris (AFP) - © 2023 AFP
