Macron faces French fury over pensions as crowds BOO President on first trip
Emmanuel Macron has been booed and heckled as he tours the nation after unveiling his controversial pension reform
Reuters
Emmanuel Macron was met with French fury yesterday as he was booed during his first public appearance since he unveiled his controversial pension reform.
The French President later acknowledged the “anger” felt about the decision to hike the retirement age from 62 to 64 but stressed heckling would not halt his tour across France over the next 100 days.
Macron launched his trip across the country in an effort to “appease” the nation as French voters turn away from the 45-year-old amid his latest announcement.
During his visit to Selestat in Alsace, some members of the crowd politely greeted the 25th French President but others were heard urging him to “resign”, labelling his Government “corrupt” and even calling him an “a**hole”.
Macron’s stint in Elysée Palace has been long dominated with protests and civil unrest.
Reuters
Selestat, which is home to around 20,000 inhabitants, voted decisively for Macron in last year’s election.
However, recent opinion polls suggest Macron’s popularity has dropped to its lowest level in three years, with less than one-in-three people satisfied with his leadership.
Other surveys have also revealed Macron could lose to National Rally leader Marine Le Pen for the first time if the pair faced off for a third successive election.
Macron’s stint in Elysée Palace has been long dominated with protests and civil unrest.
The Yellow Vest movement kickstarted its campaign over wealth disparity and fuel taxes in 2018.
Protests spearheaded by opponents of Macron’s pension reform policy began in January.
Numerous prominent trade unions have openly disapproved of the policy, including the General Confederation of Labour and French Democratic Confederation of Labour.
The Interior Ministry recently estimated around 400,000 people took to the streets in protest about increasing the age by an extra two years.
Protests continued today with activists invading offices of stockmarket operator Euronext in Paris’ La Defense business district
Reuters
Protests continued today with activists invading offices of stockmarket operator Euronext in Paris’ La Defense business district.
Macron could face even more unrest in the coming days, with thousands expected to take to the streets on May Day.
Some protesters have recently been spotted banging frying pans and pan lids as a sign of dissatisfaction.
Macron instead suggested the nation needed to come together, saying: “It’s not saucepans that are going to allow France to move forward.”