Macron defends controversial pension reform

French President Emmanuel Macron has defended the controversial pension reform that would raise the retirement age to 64 and sparked mass protests.

Macron made statements during his visit to the world’s second largest wholesale food outlet in the city of Rungis, located in the Val-de-Marne region.

Stating that everyone in the country has a common opinion that the average working time should be a little longer, Macron commented that this is necessary for the functionality of the pension system.

Macron called for common sense and calm regarding the unions’ call for mass strikes and demonstrations on March 7 to protest pension reform.

Senotia will be sent on February 28

Defending the reform, which envisages raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 gradually, Macron argued that the reform would provide more welfare for the country, including education and health financing.

The draft reform, which was not approved in the National Assembly after high reactions, is expected to be sent to the Senate on February 28.

On the other hand, the publication of a video on social media in which ex-presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande put forward similar arguments with Macron regarding the retirement age drew attention.

French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire described the pension reform as the work that allowed Macron to outshine his predecessors in a television program yesterday.

Controversial pension reform

Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne announced on January 10 that the pension reform, which was among the election promises of President Emmanuel Macron, would be implemented.

Stating that in the country where the retirement age is 62, the legal retirement age will be gradually increased by 3 months each year and will be increased to 64 in 2030, starting from September 1, and said that in 2027, it will be necessary to pay a premium for 43 years in order to receive the full pension.

Since January 19, millions of people across the country have staged strikes and protests against the controversial reform many times.