Macron defends pension reform
The president of France, Emmanuel Macron, has defended Tuesday the project for pension reform, which has sparked mobilizations in the country and caused a fall in his popularity, before stressing that «people know that we have to work a little more». SOURCE: EUROPA PRESS
President’s popularity has plummeted
Macron, who paid a visit to the Rungis market earlier in the day, said that «the real debate that must be held in society is that of labor,» before stressing that «the reform makes it possible to create more wealth for the country,» as reported by French daily Le Parisien.
Maintaining the retirement age is not sustainable, says the president
«In general, people know that they have to work a little longer, on average,» argued the French president, who called for «common sense.» «It is not true to say that we can keep the same retirement ages, that does not work on this issue,» he has stressed.
Delaying the retirement age by two years
In this way, the tenant of the Elysée has defended raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 to maintain a system that he described as «a treasure» and as «the patrimony of those who have nothing». «I believe in work,» he said, while reiterating that «all the reforms carried out go in this direction.»
A commitment to adapting to the reality of the labor market
«Work must continue and be better paid,» said Macron, who called for «adapting» the reality of work. «When you work at night and carry weight after a certain age, it is necessary that working careers evolve, that you can work less or that you can retrain and that this is taken into account in view of retirement,» he concluded.
Unions continue to oppose increase in retirement age
The French National Assembly failed last week to reach an overall vote on the government’s pension reform, so the text automatically passes to the Senate, all this while the unions are calling for new strikes against the increase in the retirement age.
Strike planned for March 7
In this regard, the French Democratic Confederation of Labor has indicated that a large strike and demonstration against the pension reform is scheduled for March 7, following five demonstrations in less than a month.
A system that is a treasure
President says delaying retirement age is necessary to maintain a system that is «a treasure.»
