Macron aims to 'calm things down' in address to France over pension
changes
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[March 22, 2023]
By Benoit Van Overstraeten and Jean-Stéphane Brosse
PARIS (Reuters) - President Emmanuel Macron will look to "calm things
down" with a televised interview on Wednesday amid growing anger across
France over his plans to raise the retirement age, a source close to the
centrist president said.
The question is whether Macron can achieve this. Advisers indicated the
1200 GMT interview would not contain any major policy announcements.
Neither a government reshuffle nor snap elections are on the cards, but
rather an attempt to regain the initiative with measures to better
involve citizens and unions in decision-making, political leaders in
Macron's camp said.
Rubbish bins and barricades were set ablaze in spontaneous protests in
Paris and elsewhere in France in a sixth night of scuffles with police.
The ongoing protests could impact the planned state visit next week of
Britain's King Charles, a Buckingham Palace source said.
This, alongside with rolling strikes that affect oil depots, public
transport and garbage collection, represent the most serious challenge
to the centrist president's authority since the "Yellow Vest" revolt
four years ago.
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Francois Bayrou, a veteran politician in Macron's camp, told franceinfo
radio that Macron's interview needed both to stress the need for the
pension changes and to look towards the future.
Macron, who will break his silence after weeks of leaving Prime Minister
Elisabeth Borne in the front-line, wants to get back on the front foot
and has asked leaders in his camp for ideas, a source who took part in
meetings on Tuesday said.
Local media said Macron might postpone all or part of a much-disputed
draft immigration bill in an attempt to calm the situation.
Polls show a wide majority of French are opposed to the pension
legislation, which will raise the retirement age by two years to 64, as
well as the government's decision to push the bill through parliament
last week without a vote.
KING CHARLES' VISIT
Protesters on Wednesday also blocked train stations in the southern
cities of Nice and Toulouse, part of broader improvised demonstrations
across the country, that include refinery and depot blockages that have
started to lead to petrol shortages.
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![](../images/032223PIX/news_z30.jpg)
A puppet depicting French President
Emmanuel Macron is tossed into the air by French workers on strike
during a demonstration on the eve of the ninth day of national
strike and protests, and after the pension reform was adopted as the
French Parliament rejected two motions of no-confidence against the
government, in Nice, France, March 22, 2023. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Mar/22/images/ads/current/peasleymemorials_lda_2022.png)
Labour unions have announced another day of strikes and
demonstrations on Thursday.
"I don't expect much from Macron's speech," pensioner Jacques
Borensztejn said at a rally on Tuesday in Paris.
"We don't want this law and we'll fight until it is withdrawn."
"When there were 3.5 million of us in the streets, well, Emmanuel
Macron still did not listen to what we had to tell him," student
Elonore Shmitt said at the same rally.
"So now we have to shift to more radical means of action, especially
blocking the economy."
Human rights groups and opposition politicians have denounced what
they view as an excessive use of force by the police during these
protests.
Paris police chief Laurent Nunez said there would be an
investigation after footage of a police officer punching a protester
went viral. He also said police were also readying tighter security
controls ahead of King Charles’ planned visit, scheduled to begin on
Sunday.
The Buckingham Palace source said the protests could impact the
logistics of the visit, Charles' first since becoming monarch.
The visit includes a trip to the Musee d'Orsay art gallery and
dinner at the Chateau de Versailles, the gilded palace that was
built in the 17th century during the reign of King Louis XIV. It
also includes events at the Arc de Triomphe before taking the train
to the southwestern city of Bordeaux.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Mar/22/images/ads/current/firststatemortgage_sda_020223.png)
Opposition lawmakers have asked for Macron to call off the visit.
"Unbelievable! We are going to have Emmanuel Macron, the monarch who
is going to welcome King Charles III in Versailles," Sandrine
Rousseau, a senior lawmaker from the Ecologist party said. "Of
course he should cancel this visit. Is the priority really to
welcome Charles III in Versailles?"
(Reporting by Benoit Van Overstraeten, Jean-Stephane Brosse,
Dominique Vidalon, ELizabeth Pineau, John Irish; Writing by Ingrid
Melander; Editing by Christina Fincher and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
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