Anger in France over pension – Macron ‘charm operation’ to turn tide

French President Emmanuel Macron will give a live joint interview to TF1 and France 2 TV in a bid to turn the political tide against him after his decision to impose controversial pension reform by presidential decree bypassing the French parliament.

The announcement of the interview comes before 24 hours have passed since the “battle for survival” given by the government of the French President to the parliament, passing “wounded” but finally “standing” from the motion of no confidence tabled by the opposition.

A total of 278 MPs voted against the government, just nine short of the 289 needed to bring it down. “I am determined to continue promoting the reforms that are necessary for our country,” said the French prime minister Elizabeth Bourne immediately after the process is completed.

The pension reform, which among other things provides for the increase of the retirement age from 62 to 64 yearshas caused strong reactions in French society, which developed into anger after Macron’s parliamentary “bypass”, when he found that the necessary majority was not gathered to approve the changes.

So decided to impose the reform through a presidential decree, triggering the relevant article 49.3 of the Constitution which bypasses the vote in the National Assembly. The opposition denounced the French President for “parliamentary coup” and since then demonstrations are daily, recalling the period of the Yellow Vests, with incidents and brutal repression.

The “battle” will continue inside and outside Parliament

Both inside Parliament and outside Parliament, the battle is expected to continue. At the moment, the parliamentary “fires” are directed against the Prime Minister, who is being asked to resign, while the refugee issue is also being considered in the Constitutional Council with a request to hold a referendum on the matter.

Bourne said for her part that she would “directly” address the Constitutional Council in order for it to consider the bill “as soon as possible”. Analysts estimated in the previous 24 hours that in an attempt to reverse the negative climate, Macron is not excluded even to remove her, accusing her of failing to create the right parliamentary environment to pass the pension reform.

The interview announced by Macron is also part of a “charm operation” designed to soften the backlash. Also, the French Presidency seems to be considering the promotion of more social – pro-popular reforms, hoping that in this way the page will quickly be turned by closing the destructive chapter of the pension.

Most polls show French public opinion to be clearly against the reform and furthermore to strongly and personally criticize Emmanuel Macron for his decision to bypass the French parliament.

France is gearing up for another general strike next Thursday, March 23, with workers declaring that the battle will continue in the streets. Every day thousands of people gather in various cities and especially in the Place de la Concorde in Paris, opposite the parliament. The symbolism, as noted by international media, is strong, as it is the square where the guillotine was set up for Louis II 230 years ago.