France: Macron pledges government action in coming days

French President Emmanuel Macron has pledged to unveil a government action plan in the next 100 days to heal the country following weeks of widespread protests over the pension reforms. Macron has since sought to open talks with unions on other key issues.

In a televised speech on Monday, two days after signing the pension reform legislation into law, Macron said he wants the prime minister to propose measures on working conditions, law and order, and education. Macron also expressed regret that the pension reforms were not broadly supported by the public, as unions have taken to the streets to protest against the reforms.

“Is this reform accepted? Obviously not. Despite months of talks, a consensus wasn’t found and I regret that. We must draw all the lessons from that,” said Macron.

“On July 14, we must be able to take stock,” said the French leader, referring to the nation’s Bastille Day holiday. “We have ahead of us 100 days of appeasement, unity, ambition, and action for France.”

Macron has defended the pension reforms, saying the changes were needed to avoid increasing the country’s deficit by billions every year by the end of the decade. However, a study published by the Rexecode economics think tank found that the government’s expected gains are optimistic and that a shortfall may still likely remain.

Following Macron’s speech, the head of the CDFT union, the largest workers union in France, Lauren Berger, said Macron’s remarks were empty and did not address the outrage from the public that resulted from the pension reforms, which would raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.

Macron signed the legislation into law on Friday shortly after the French Constitutional Council said the measures in the legislation, which the French government forced through parliament without a final vote. Macron’s government does not hold the majority in the French parliament.

The nine-member panel approved key measures in the law, such as raising the retirement age to 64 and extending the years of work needed for people to receive a full pension. The panel said the proposal was in accordance with French law.