FRANCE: Emmanuel Macron has given himself 100 days to mend the nation and asked his cabinet to begin discussions with unions on a variety of topics. He wants his prime minister to offer policies on working conditions, law and order, education, and health issues two days after enacting legislation to raise the retirement age by two years.
Macron declared on Bastille Day that France has 100 days of appeasement, unity, ambition, and action ahead of them. He cited pension reforms as necessary to prevent an annual deficit of billions of euros by the end of the decade.
He was unable to secure a parliamentary majority to support the reform, forcing him to pass it without a vote using unique constitutional powers. He expressed sadness that the reforms were not welcomed by the public and noted that we needed to learn from this.
Protesters lit garbage cans on fire in Paris and threw pots and pans in front of town halls. Macron did not provide specifics on the roadmap he wants the government to implement but did state that it should focus on tightening immigration regulations and enhancing working conditions.
Laurent Berger, president of the CFDT, said the speech was devoid of substance and did not attempt to address the nation’s rage.
The left and unions have promised not to give in after three months of strikes and rallies and have warned of large-scale demonstrations on May 1, Labour Day. Polls show a majority of French people still oppose the reform, which was approved without a vote.
Macron’s new pension reform has been approved by France’s Constitutional Council despite protests. It has been referred to as a “Pyrrhic victory,” after the Greek king who defeated the Romans. Macron is scheduled to address the nation at 1800 GMT in a speech in the spirit of “pacification.”
Also Read: France’s President Macron Signs Pension Reform amid Raging Protests
