<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidonQZ1rgrLYDx" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidonQZ1rgrLYDx" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>French President Emmanuel Macron regrets he was not involved sufficiently in selling his highly unpopular pension reform bill to the public. Macron's statement comes just over a week after he signed the bill into law but has since faced a hailstorm of criticism.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Perhaps the mistake was not being sufficiently present to give a substance to the reform and carry it myself," Macron told Le Parisien newspaper, adding that he still had "confidence" in Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne whose job is seen as being on the line.</p>

<p>Ever since the reform bill was introduced, Borne has been one of the most vocal voices backing it. According to Borne, extending the pension age prevents the French fiscal system from collapsing under the weight of deficits.</p>

<p>"Leaving these deficits to grow would be irresponsible...It would lead inevitably to a massive increase in taxes, a reduction in pensions and would pose a threat to our pensions system," said Bonne.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I'm very aware that making changes to our retirement system is causing anxiety and fears among French people."</p>

<h2><strong>Government in danger</strong></h2>

<p>Meanwhile, Macron added that his government may be in danger, come the next election as far-right leader Marine Le Pen continues to make gains.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Marine Le Pen will arrive (in power) if we are unable to respond to the challenges of the country and if we introduce a habit of lying or denying reality," he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The next presidential election is scheduled for 2027 but Le Pen has made sizeable gains in swaying the fence-sitters to her campaign. Macron has smelled the coffee and is warning the public about Le Pen's anti-immigration stance.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/french-court-approves-macrons-controversial-pension-reform-plan-582540" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | French President Emmanuel Macron signs controversial pension reforms into law</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>French court approves the bill</strong></h2>

<p>Earlier this month, the French court approved Macron's controversial pension reform plan to raise the retirement age. The decision was validated by the nine-member Constitutional Council after almost three months of protests across the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The council was of the view that the government's actions were in line with the constitution and that the retirement age should be raised.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to reports, the court rejected six minor proposals, which included forcing large companies to publish data regarding how many employees above 55 were working for them and creating a special contract for older workers.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/france-protests-against-pension-law-continues-582885"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;France: Protests against pension law continue</strong></a></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/france-protests-against-pension-law-continues-582885/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Additionally, the council rejected a proposal put forth by the leftist parties which sought to organise a referendum on the pension reform.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The very next day, Macron penned the bill into law by giving his assent. However, the protests over the reforms are yet to stop. The Parisians are still taking to the streets and demanding that Macron restore the status quo.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


French President Emmanuel Macron regrets he was not involved sufficiently in selling his highly unpopular pension reform bill to the public. Macron's statement comes just over a week after he signed the bill into law but has since faced a hailstorm of criticism.

French President Emmanuel Macron regrets he was not involved sufficiently in selling his highly unpopular pension reform bill to the public. Macron's statement comes just over a week after he signed the bill into law but has since faced a hailstorm of criticism. "Perhaps the mistake was not being sufficiently present to give a substance to the reform and carry it myself," Macron told Le Parisien newspaper, adding that he still had "confidence" in Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne whose job is seen as being on the line. Ever since the reform bill was introduced, Borne has been one of the most vocal voices backing it. According to Borne, extending the pension age prevents the French fiscal system from collapsing under the weight of deficits. "Leaving these deficits to grow would be irresponsible...It would lead inevitably to a massive increase in taxes, a reduction in pensions and would pose a threat to our pensions system," said Bonne. "I'm very aware that making changes to our retirement system is causing anxiety and fears among French people." Government in danger Meanwhile, Macron added that his government may be in danger, come the next election as far-right leader Marine Le Pen continues to make gains. "Marine Le Pen will arrive (in power) if we are unable to respond to the challenges of the country and if we introduce a habit of lying or denying reality," he said. The next presidential election is scheduled for 2027 but Le Pen has made sizeable gains in swaying the fence-sitters to her campaign. Macron has smelled the coffee and is warning the public about Le Pen's anti-immigration stance. ALSO READ | French President Emmanuel Macron signs controversial pension reforms into law French court approves the bill Earlier this month, the French court approved Macron's controversial pension reform plan to raise the retirement age. The decision was validated by the nine-member Constitutional Council after almost three months of protests across the country. The council was of the view that the government's actions were in line with the constitution and that the retirement age should be raised. According to reports, the court rejected six minor proposals, which included forcing large companies to publish data regarding how many employees above 55 were working for them and creating a special contract for older workers. WATCH | France: Protests against pension law continue × Additionally, the council rejected a proposal put forth by the leftist parties which sought to organise a referendum on the pension reform. The very next day, Macron penned the bill into law by giving his assent. However, the protests over the reforms are yet to stop. The Parisians are still taking to the streets and demanding that Macron restore the status quo. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

French President Emmanuel Macron laments not selling his pension reform plan adequately to public

In Pics: Massive protests in France against Macron's pension reform law

<p>French President Emmanuel Macron officially promulgated the controversial pension reforms into law on Saturday. Macron&nbsp;signed into law the bill raising&nbsp;the country’s retirement age by two years, showed the official journal, after France’s constitutional court approved the widely unpopular pension reforms.<br />
<br />
Despite the&nbsp;approval by the constitutional court, the unions vowed to oppose the changes, including raising the retirement age from 62 to 64.&nbsp;The French court on Friday approved President Emmanuel Macron's controversial pension reform plan to raise the retirement age. The decision was validated by the nine-member Constitutional Council after almost three months of protests across the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The council was of the view that the government's actions were in line with the constitution and that the retirement age should be raised.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to&nbsp;reports, the court rejected six minor proposals, which included forcing large companies to publish data regarding how many employees above 55 were working for them and creating a special contract for older workers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Additionally, the council rejected a proposal put forth by the leftist parties which sought to organise a referendum on the pension reform.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Stage set for another round of clashes</strong></h2>

<p>The decision, however, has set the stage for another round of protests from the opposition as well as the common citizens.&nbsp;Unions made it clear that they were organising mass protests for Labour Day on May 1, while some cities saw violence erupt after the verdict was declared.</p>

<p>French hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melencho vowed that the fight against Macron's reform plan would continue despite the court's decision.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The fight continues and must gather force," said Melecho, leader of the France Unbowed (LFI) party.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-pension-reform-verdict-live-country-awaits-constitutional-ruling-on-higher-retirement-age-582536"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;France pension reform verdict LIVE: Court approves key elements of Macron's proposed plan</strong></a></p>

<p>The police are anticipating over 10,000 people to gather in Paris late on Friday night to protest the decision. Aspersions have also been cast over leftwing radicals attempting to vandalise the streets and engage in violent clashes.<strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>At the height of the protests, over 1.3 million had taken to the streets. After the court's decision, in a last-ditch attempt, French trade unions released a joint statement urging Macron to not sign the legislation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Given the massive (public) rejection of this reform, the unions request him solemnly to not promulgate this law, the only way to calm the anger which is being expressed in the country,"&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/emmanuel-macron-wins-pension-reform-backing-from-french-upper-house-572678"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Emmanuel Macron wins pension reform backing from French upper house</strong></a></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/emmanuel-macron-wins-pension-reform-backing-from-french-upper-house-572678/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The Macron government is of the view that extending the pension age will prevent the French service system from collapsing under the weight of deficits.</p>

<p>Notably, the workers in France tend to retire much earlier than their European Union (EU) counterparts. The direct repercussion is that the French exchequer has to foot a bigger pension bill than most countries in the bloc.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


French President Emmanuel Macron officially promulgated the controversial pension reforms into law on Saturday. Macron signed into law the bill raising the country’s retirement age by two years, showed the official journal, after France’s constitutional court approved the widely unpopular pension reforms.

French President Emmanuel Macron officially promulgated the controversial pension reforms into law on Saturday. Macron signed into law the bill raising the country’s retirement age by two years, showed the official journal, after France’s constitutional court approved the widely unpopular pension reforms. Despite the approval by the constitutional court, the unions vowed to oppose the changes, including raising the retirement age from 62 to 64. The French court on Friday approved President Emmanuel Macron's controversial pension reform plan to raise the retirement age. The decision was validated by the nine-member Constitutional Council after almost three months of protests across the country. The council was of the view that the government's actions were in line with the constitution and that the retirement age should be raised. According to reports, the court rejected six minor proposals, which included forcing large companies to publish data regarding how many employees above 55 were working for them and creating a special contract for older workers. Additionally, the council rejected a proposal put forth by the leftist parties which sought to organise a referendum on the pension reform. Stage set for another round of clashes The decision, however, has set the stage for another round of protests from the opposition as well as the common citizens. Unions made it clear that they were organising mass protests for Labour Day on May 1, while some cities saw violence erupt after the verdict was declared. French hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melencho vowed that the fight against Macron's reform plan would continue despite the court's decision. "The fight continues and must gather force," said Melecho, leader of the France Unbowed (LFI) party. ALSO READ | France pension reform verdict LIVE: Court approves key elements of Macron's proposed plan The police are anticipating over 10,000 people to gather in Paris late on Friday night to protest the decision. Aspersions have also been cast over leftwing radicals attempting to vandalise the streets and engage in violent clashes. At the height of the protests, over 1.3 million had taken to the streets. After the court's decision, in a last-ditch attempt, French trade unions released a joint statement urging Macron to not sign the legislation. "Given the massive (public) rejection of this reform, the unions request him solemnly to not promulgate this law, the only way to calm the anger which is being expressed in the country," WATCH | Emmanuel Macron wins pension reform backing from French upper house × The Macron government is of the view that extending the pension age will prevent the French service system from collapsing under the weight of deficits. Notably, the workers in France tend to retire much earlier than their European Union (EU) counterparts. The direct repercussion is that the French exchequer has to foot a bigger pension bill than most countries in the bloc. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

French President Emmanuel Macron signs controversial pension reforms into law

<p>Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, came under fire for taking off an expensive watch during a TV interview about pension reforms.&nbsp;He was shown briefly slipping his hands under the table and seemingly taking off his watch during a prime-time national television show in which he vowed to move forward with plans to raise the pension age from 62 to 64, further infuriating his critics.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The opposition politicians termed him president of the rich who "has never lived up to his name so well," juxtaposing the move with his claims in the interview about minimum wage earners "who have never had so much purchasing power."</p>

<p>The&nbsp;Elysee Palace claims&nbsp;that Macron did&nbsp;not remove&nbsp;the watch&nbsp;“in order to hide it&nbsp;– but because it was clinking against the table,” as reported by the Independent.</p>

<p><em><strong>Disclaimer:&nbsp;WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media</strong></em></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="fr">Petit jeu (facile).<br />
Qu'est-ce qui disparaît entre ces 2 extraits ? <a href="https://t.co/kkn0U8p1Gj">pic.twitter.com/kkn0U8p1Gj</a></p>
— Caisses de grève (@caissesdegreve) <a href="https://twitter.com/caissesdegreve/status/1638857561704202243?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>“The noise is clearly audible only a few seconds before the beginning of the video shared on social media,” the presidential palace said in a widely reported statement, which chimes with the audio in the viral clip.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/king-charles-france-visit-postponed-as-pension-protests-turn-violent-575344">King Charles III’s state visit to France postponed as pension protests turn violent</a></p>

<p>About 10 minutes into the interview, Macron put his wrists on the table and a clunk was audible. Then he put his hands under the desk. When they came out, his left wrist's watch was gone.</p>

<p>The manoeuvre caught the eyes of the French audience&nbsp;and the clip has since gone viral.</p>

<p>The watch's exact worth is unclear. It was reportedly made by the French company Bell &amp; Ross and cost between €1,600 (US$1,725)&nbsp;and €2,400 (US$2,587), according to French media.</p>

<p>Millions of people have protested against Macron's reforms. Ifop reported last week that Macron's approval rating has dropped to just 28 per cent, the lowest since the peak of the Yellow Vest protests in 2018.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></p>


Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, came under fire for taking off an expensive watch during a TV interview about pension reforms. He was shown briefly slipping his hands under the table and seemingly taking off his watch during a prime-time national television show in which he vowed to move forward with plans to raise the pension age from 62 to 64, further infuriating his critics.

Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, came under fire for taking off an expensive watch during a TV interview about pension reforms. He was shown briefly slipping his hands under the table and seemingly taking off his watch during a prime-time national television show in which he vowed to move forward with plans to raise the pension age from 62 to 64, further infuriating his critics. The opposition politicians termed him president of the rich who "has never lived up to his name so well," juxtaposing the move with his claims in the interview about minimum wage earners "who have never had so much purchasing power." The Elysee Palace claims that Macron did not remove the watch “in order to hide it – but because it was clinking against the table,” as reported by the Independent. Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media Petit jeu (facile). Qu'est-ce qui disparaît entre ces 2 extraits ? pic.twitter.com/kkn0U8p1Gj — Caisses de grève (@caissesdegreve) March 23, 2023 × “The noise is clearly audible only a few seconds before the beginning of the video shared on social media,” the presidential palace said in a widely reported statement, which chimes with the audio in the viral clip. ALSO READ | King Charles III’s state visit to France postponed as pension protests turn violent About 10 minutes into the interview, Macron put his wrists on the table and a clunk was audible. Then he put his hands under the desk. When they came out, his left wrist's watch was gone. The manoeuvre caught the eyes of the French audience and the clip has since gone viral. The watch's exact worth is unclear. It was reportedly made by the French company Bell & Ross and cost between €1,600 (US$1,725) and €2,400 (US$2,587), according to French media. Millions of people have protested against Macron's reforms. Ifop reported last week that Macron's approval rating has dropped to just 28 per cent, the lowest since the peak of the Yellow Vest protests in 2018. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

France: Macron takes off luxury watch on television while talking about pension reforms, irks protesters

Protest against the contentious pension reform bill in France are continuing. Several protesters held a demonstration in the capital city Paris for a second consecutive day. This demonstration escalated into clashes with the police.

France: Protesters take to the streets against pension reform bill's imposition

<p>Police clashed with protesters in Paris after the French government took the decision to force through pension reforms without voting in parliament.</p>

<p>People gathered on Place de la Concorde to protest against the increase in the retirement age from 62 to 64. As protests escalated, tear gas was fired by the police as they tried to disperse the crowd. Protesters were seen throwing cobblestones.</p>

<p>Special constitutional powers were used by the French government to force through the pension reforms bill amid chaos in parliament as radical left MPs started singing La Marseillaise loudly to stop French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne from speaking.</p>

<p>A last-minute decision was taken by French President Emmanuel Macron to avoid a parliamentary vote and pass the legislation to increase the pension age from 62 to 64.</p>

<p>Minutes before the country's MPs were to cast vote in the lower house, Macron was busy conducting frantic meetings with senior political figures, and in minutes, he decided to use special powers and not take the risk of voting, in which he had chances of losing.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-protests-govt-to-force-paris-rubbish-collectors-to-return-to-work-as-trash-stacks-up-572743">France protests: Govt to force Paris rubbish collectors to return to work as trash stacks up</a></p>

<p>Macron invoked the constitution's article 49.3 which gives the government the power to bypass parliament. On the left, MPs shouted “Resign! Resign!” at Borne, and radical left party France Unbowed's members sang the national anthem loudly so that Borne is not able to speak and the session gets suspended.</p>

<p>Speaking at the parliament, Borne said that they will push the bill through because the government cannot afford to “gamble the future of our pensions”.</p>

<p>The bill was earlier adopted by the Senate on Thursday. However, since the right-wing opposition MPs present in the National Assembly were reluctant to support Macron, the government had a fair chance of facing defeat in the lower house.</p>

<p>"We can't take the risk of seeing 175 hours of parliamentary debate come to nothing," Borne said while announcing the move.</p>

<p>Far-right leader Marine Le Pen said, "It's a total failure for the government. From the beginning the government fooled itself into thinking it had a majority."</p>

<p>As per the polls, around two-thirds of citizens in France oppose the pension overhaul.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | French Upper House Senate passes Pension Bill</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/french-upper-house-senate-passes-pension-bill-572705/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>"When a president has no majority in the country, no majority in the National Assembly, he must withdraw his bill," said Socialist Party chief Olivier Faure.</p>

<p>Few opposition parties, including Le Pen's, are likely to call a no-confidence vote on Friday, however, the cabinet of Borne is likely to survive because of support from the right-wing Republicans party.</p>

<p>Immediately after the step, Unions called for mass strikes and protests for the next day, as they called the government's move "a complete denial of democracy".</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>You can&nbsp;<strong>now write for wionews.com</strong>&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Police clashed with protesters in Paris after the French government took the decision to force through pension reforms without voting in parliament. People gathered on Place de la Concorde to protest against the increase in the retirement age from 62 to 64.

Police clashed with protesters in Paris after the French government took the decision to force through pension reforms without voting in parliament. People gathered on Place de la Concorde to protest against the increase in the retirement age from 62 to 64. As protests escalated, tear gas was fired by the police as they tried to disperse the crowd. Protesters were seen throwing cobblestones. Special constitutional powers were used by the French government to force through the pension reforms bill amid chaos in parliament as radical left MPs started singing La Marseillaise loudly to stop French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne from speaking. A last-minute decision was taken by French President Emmanuel Macron to avoid a parliamentary vote and pass the legislation to increase the pension age from 62 to 64. Minutes before the country's MPs were to cast vote in the lower house, Macron was busy conducting frantic meetings with senior political figures, and in minutes, he decided to use special powers and not take the risk of voting, in which he had chances of losing. ALSO READ | France protests: Govt to force Paris rubbish collectors to return to work as trash stacks up Macron invoked the constitution's article 49.3 which gives the government the power to bypass parliament. On the left, MPs shouted “Resign! Resign!” at Borne, and radical left party France Unbowed's members sang the national anthem loudly so that Borne is not able to speak and the session gets suspended. Speaking at the parliament, Borne said that they will push the bill through because the government cannot afford to “gamble the future of our pensions”. The bill was earlier adopted by the Senate on Thursday. However, since the right-wing opposition MPs present in the National Assembly were reluctant to support Macron, the government had a fair chance of facing defeat in the lower house. "We can't take the risk of seeing 175 hours of parliamentary debate come to nothing," Borne said while announcing the move. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen said, "It's a total failure for the government. From the beginning the government fooled itself into thinking it had a majority." As per the polls, around two-thirds of citizens in France oppose the pension overhaul. WATCH | French Upper House Senate passes Pension Bill "When a president has no majority in the country, no majority in the National Assembly, he must withdraw his bill," said Socialist Party chief Olivier Faure. Few opposition parties, including Le Pen's, are likely to call a no-confidence vote on Friday, however, the cabinet of Borne is likely to survive because of support from the right-wing Republicans party. Immediately after the step, Unions called for mass strikes and protests for the next day, as they called the government's move "a complete denial of democracy". (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Protests escalate as Macron overrides parliament to pass pension reform in France

Despite raging protests across the country. The French senate has decided to adopt Macron's unpopular pension reform plan. There were 195 votes for and 112 votes against the bill in which a key point is to raise the age of retirement by two years from 62 to 64.

French senate passes pension reform bill amid raging protests