Despite extensive strikes that have disabled French transportation for much of December, President Emmanuel Macron was rebellious, declaring that his pension reform plan would be “carried out”.
In his New Year’s address, President Emmanuel Macron stated that he believed that a settlement could be seen as he stood by his plan for retirement reform that would prominently exceed the retirement age with two years, from 62 to 64.
Transportation completely in France, and particularly in Paris has been heavily disturbed due to widespread strikes over the newly announced reform that would also move the nation from 42 special retirement programs to a single system.
“We must give up on changing our nation, our everyday life? No. Because it would be dropping those whom the system has already dropped, it would be betraying our children, their children after them, who would then have to pay the price for our renunciations,” stated the President.
Furthermore, the President added that he is looking forward to a compromise. Also, the government will meet with unions in early January to review.
However, political analysts stated that President Emmanuel Macron sounded defensive in his speech.
“I will not give in to pessimism or immobility,” the President added.
Strikes recently entered their fourth week, with some unions calling for the withdrawal of the government’s plan.
The ongoing strikes are now the second-longest in French history and are on its course to surpass the largest.