Macron assumes the unpopularity of initiating pension reform for the good of France

French President Emmanuel Macron assured the French on Wednesday that “pension reform It is not a luxury or a pleasure, but a necessity” and said he was willing to “take the unpopularity” of the startup for the good of the country.

«This reform is necessary. And I tell the French that it does not give me pleasure. I wouldn’t want to do that,” Macron said in a televised interview with TF1 and France.I don’t want to be re-elected. Between the survey and the short-term and general interest of the country, I choose the general interest of the country and if the unpopularity of the country is to be assumed, I guess» added Macron, sure of himself.

The president confirmed that he will not withdraw the pension reform, despite large protests in the streets. Macron was convinced that the reform was possible enters into force at the end of the yearafter the Constitutional Council gave its opinion on the text.

Macron will not, at this time, without a political gesture to try to get out of the political crisis: it excludes the dissolution of the National Assembly, the dismissal of the prime minister, the dismissal of the government or the organization of a referendum on pension reform, which some opposition parties are demanding.

The President confirmed his confidence in the Prime Minister Elizabeth Borne “lead this government team.” And he reached the Parliament and the trade union. “Unions have legitimacy. When they parade, when they demonstrate, they oppose this reform. I respect them,” he said.

“We will not tolerate any overflow”

Macron, however, made it clear that he would not tolerate violence. “I can not accept neither rebels nor factions“, he said. “We will not tolerate any overflow,” the president added.

The head of state gave an interview on Wednesday to try to calm things down, after six days of violent protests in several French cities against the pension reform. It was the first time Macron spoke publicly since a multi-party no-confidence motion against Elisabeth Borne’s government failed by 9 votes on Monday.

The pension reform – which sets the retirement age at 64, compared to the current 62 – was definitively adopted on Monday, but the unions and the opposition are not giving up and are demanding that it not be implemented.

Another one is scheduled for this Thursday. a day of strikes and demonstrations across the country to demand that the government bury the reform, the ninth since the protests began on January 19.