Macron’s TV speech is seen as the prelude to what is expected to be an arduous struggle to regain the public’s trust. It is also expected that – as was the case after the yellow vest crisis in 2018/19 – he will travel more through the country and seek contact with the population.
Macron said in his speech that he had heard people’s anger, but reiterated the need for this pension reform in order to guarantee pensions for everyone. For the first time he mentioned the large demonstrations. Nobody can “remain deaf to these demands for social justice”.
New dialogue offer to trade unions
According to Macron, a coherent plan should be drawn up over the next 100 days to get France back on its feet. These include “green” industrial projects, more security forces in rural areas, more school sports and an intensified fight against illegal immigration. Just as he worked to rebuild Paris’ Notre-Dame Cathedral within five years, he will now take care of the nation, he promised. On the national holiday on July 14, he wants to take stock.
He also renewed the offer of dialogue to the trade unions to talk about better working conditions – for “those who are ready”: “The door will remain open.” In the demonstrations he had heard the rejection of the reform, “but also the will to improve working conditions,” said Macron. He regrets that no compromise could be found despite months of negotiations. However, the reform was passed in accordance with the constitution.
“We will not listen to him”
The unions had actually said they would not resume talks with the government on other issues unless the pension reform was reversed. After the speech, the moderate union boss Laurent Berger was sobered that the speech had contained nothing concrete. But he at least conceded that the union would eventually return to the negotiating table – but not before May Day.
It is questionable whether Macron’s concerns were heard. His speech was accompanied by protests with pot lids and pans in front of city halls and prefectures on Monday evening, to which the unions had called. They protested with the slogan: “Macron won’t listen to us? We won’t listen to him!” The Left Party in France joined the Attac organization’s call for the protest this Monday evening.
Since January, the unions had called for nationwide strikes and demonstrations with millions of participants for twelve days. The unions, which had been at odds until then, jointly called for another mass protest on May 1st. So far, the unions have strictly rejected Macron’s offer of dialogue.
Le Pen benefits
According to recent polls, Macron is currently at 28 percent approval – the lowest level since the yellow vest crisis of 2018/19. Macron’s government is also weak in parliament. His camp lost an absolute majority in last year’s parliamentary elections. He must now form new alliances. According to pollster Brice Teinturier, the right-wing populist Rassemblement National with Marine Le Pen benefits the most. You now reach an approval of 39 percent.
Le Pen had done nothing more than wait and show that his rejection of the reform was less radical than the left-wing populist party La France Insoumise (LFI). Le Pen compared Macron to an “arsonist” who is damaging democracy. She has already announced that she will reverse the reform if she comes to power.
