President Emmanuel Macron defended his hugely unpopular pension reform on Monday, saying he understood the French people’s “anger” after three months of protests.
In his first address to France since signing the reform into law, Macron expressed sadness that no consensus had been reached on the measure.
Macron signed the measure early Saturday, only hours after the constitutional court certified its headline modification to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64, provoking charges that he was smuggling the law through in the middle of night.
His latest attempt to defuse tensions was disregarded by the left and unions, who warned of massive Labor Day rallies on May 1.
Polls constantly show that the majority of French people oppose the change, which the administration forced through parliament using a contentious process to bypass a vote.
Macron, speaking from the Elysee Palace, defended the reform as “necessary” and underlined that “doing nothing” was not an option.
“Has this reform been accepted? Obviously not. And despite months of consultations, no consensus could be found and I regret it.”
Noting the protests that have raged against the reform, he added: “No one, especially not me, can remain deaf to this demand for social justice.”
“The answer can be neither in rigidity, nor in extremism,” said the president, adding his “door will always be open” to talks with the unions.
Macron’s personal popularity ratings have eroded with some analysts suggesting he has given a head start to far-right leader Marine Le Pen down the long path to 2027 elections.
