“Do you think I’ll enjoy it?”

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“This reform is not a luxury, it is not a pleasure, it is a necessity for the country,” the head of state said in an interview with broadcasters TF1 and France 2 on Wednesday. “Do you think I would like to carry out this reform?” Macron the two journalists and answers with a clear “no”.

“The truth here is that there is one thing that I regret, and that is that we failed to share the compulsion, more specifically the need, to implement this reform.” However, he does not live on regrets, but on willpower, tenacity and commitment.

The central government of France wants to gradually increase the retirement age from 62 to 64 years. The number of payment years for a full pension must increase more rapidly. The reform cleared the last parliamentary hurdle on Monday evening when two no-confidence motions against the government failed. It is currently under consideration by the Constitutional Council. Strikes and protests have been going on for weeks against what is probably Macron’s most important project in his second term. New strikes and protests will also be held on Thursday.

Macron emphasized that the pension fund was no longer in balance. “And the longer we wait, the worse it gets.” Alternatives to reform were cutting pensions, raising taxes or building up more debt. The president rejected all variants.

Given the mass rejection of the reform by the population, Macron said: “Between the polls and the short term and the public interest of the country, I choose the public interest of the country.” The reform is very difficult. “We ask people to make an effort. It’s never popular.”

(SDA)

Source: Blick