President Emmanuel Macron doubled down on his plan to reform pensions, saying the French must come to terms with reality and the need to work more as he expressed confidence in his prime minister.
(Bloomberg) — President Emmanuel Macron doubled down on his plan to reform pensions, saying the French must come to terms with reality and the need to work more as he expressed confidence in his prime minister.
Speaking a day before a new wave of strikes and demonstrations against his reform, Macron said he would keep his Premier Elisabeth Borne and expand his base by working with other parliamentary forces, during a lunchtime interview on the most-watched French channels.
“We must go ahead because it’s in the higher interest of the nation,” an unapologetic Macron said Wednesday. “Between opinion polls and short-term considerations, I pick the general interest.”
Macron’s flagship reform was finally adopted Monday after the opposition failed to pass a vote of no confidence in his government. But the 45-year-old leader emerged bruised by the episode, which fell short of overthrowing his administration by only nine votes.
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
©2023 Bloomberg L.P.