President of France Emmanuel Macronwas interviewed by TF1 and France 2 TV amid the activation of the provision to bypass the national assembly for pension reform and the mass mobilizations that intensified in France after this event.

The President of France is addressing the French people two days after the government nearly “survived” a no-confidence vote from opposition deputies.

In his interview, Macron called the government’s pension law “necessaryand clarified that it will be completed by the end of the year.

“Do you think I like myself for promoting this reform? No,” Macron continued, expressing his position that “there are not countless options to balance the insurance system, so reform is considered necessary.”

Elsewhere in his interview, E. Macron announced his intention to start a new dialogue with trade unions, and also expressed confidence in Prime Minister Born, who, as he noted, he instructed to expand the parliamentary majority, which he expects in the next few weeks.

Regarding the protests raging in France, he said he respects the right to peaceful demonstrations, but added that “extreme violence is unacceptable”, promising to “take care of the return of life to normality against those few” who want to block developments.

Emmanuel Macron, however, denounced the “cynicism” of some large companies in recording significant extraordinary gains that allow them to buy back their own shares on the stock market, and asked them to make an “extraordinary contribution” so that “employees can benefit” from that money. He added that he would ask the government to develop measures in this direction.

“If I have to see my popularity decline today, I will accept it,” Macron repeated, while admitting that “he failed to convince society of the need for reform.”

After all, the polls show that the majority of the French are against the pension legislation, as well as against the initiative to activate 49.3 to bypass the parliamentary vote.

Macron, however, insists and says that “between the short-term damage from the polls and the overall good for the country, he chooses the latter.”

Finally, the French President said that proposals related to immigration, the reform of French industry, the modernization of healthcare and education, as well as initiatives to combat climate change, will be forthcoming in the near future. Macron noted that many of these reforms are painful and that he understands the social backlash, but concluded that they are absolutely necessary, which is why he is determined to carry them out.

According to Reuters

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