President defends new law that raises France's retirement age as protests escalate
French President Emmanuel Macron on a screen as he speaks during an interview on national television, in Paris, France, March 22 2023. Picture: GONZALO FUENTES/REUTERS
“Do you think I enjoy doing this reform? No,” Macron said in a rare TV interview. “But there is not a hundred ways to balance the accounts ... this reform is necessary.” But since the government’s decision to skip a vote in parliament last week, spontaneous protests in Paris and elsewhere have seen rubbish bins and barricades set ablaze every night amid scuffles with police. Protesters on Wednesday blocked train stations in the southern cities of Nice and Toulouse.
Neither a government reshuffle nor snap elections are on the cards, but rather an attempt to regain the initiative with measures to better involve citizens and unions in decision-making, political leaders in Macron’s camp said ahead of the interview.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Macron aims to 'calm things down' in address to France over pension changes | News24President Emmanuel Macron will look to 'calm things down' with a televised interview on Wednesday amid growing anger across France over his plans to raise the retirement age, a source close to the centrist president said.
Read more »
‘Weakened’ Macron consults allies on next steps after tight no-confidence votePension reform pushed through, but crisis is far from over
Read more »
Macron breaks silence in bid to defuse pensions crisisThe government Monday narrowly survived a no-confidence motion but the uproar has descended into the biggest domestic crisis of the second term for Macron, first elected in 2017 with pledges to radically reform France.
Read more »
Malema and supporters camp outside president’s official Pretoria residenceAfter hours of marching, singing and scores of EFF members arriving in buses at Pretoria's Church Square on Monday, EFF leader Julius Malema made an appearance.
Read more »
Malema and supporters camp outside president’s official Pretoria residenceMalema and supporters camp outside president’s official Pretoria residence: After hours of marching, singing and scores of EFF members arriving in buses at Pretoria's Church Square on Monday, EFF leader Julius Malema made an appearance.
Read more »
Malema and supporters camp outside president’s official Pretoria residenceAfter hours of marching, singing and scores of EFF members arriving in buses at Pretoria's Church Square on Monday, EFF leader Julius Malema made an appearance.
Read more »