The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, has admitted that »there is a social protest» to his plan to reform the public pension system, but has defended dialogue as a way to resolve the current discrepancies, while waiting for next week’s meeting between the Government and the unions to be finalized.
»There is a social contestation, but this does not want to decide that everything must stop», said Macron, during a visit to the Hautes-Alpes dedicated in principle to the presentation of an official plan on water. Dozens of people have gathered in the area to shout for the »resignation» of the president, according to the BFMTV channel.
The pension reform protests have also been joined by criticism of alleged police excesses during the break-up of an environmental protest in Sainte-Soline, in Deux-Sèvres. Two protesters remain in a coma, but Macron has given his support to local authorities and security forces, who acted »with great courage».
»There were thousands of people who simply went to wage war,» the president said, during remarks in which he stressed that »nothing can justify violence» during the protests. In this sense, he stressed that there were people who joined the mobilizations of March 25 in an almost festive atmosphere and without incidents.
The polls reflect an erosion in the public image of Macron, who in recent days has ruled out backtracking or even delaying his legislative roadmap, in such a way that he is confident that the pension reform can enter into force this year. France’s Constitutional Council is scheduled to rule on this law on April 14.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
