???? Live: French President Macron says pension reform bill should be enacted by end of the year

Issued on: 22/03/2023 – 10:49Modified: 22/03/2023 – 11:03

13:29pm: Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne to continue to lead government

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne still had his confidence.

Two days ago Borne’s governement narrowly survived a no-confidence vote over a deeply unpopular pension reform.

“She has my confidence to lead this government,” Macron said in a TV interview, adding that he has instructed the Prime Minister to enlargen majority in parliament. 

13:18pm: Macron says big companies need to ramp up contribution

Large corporations that reap super profits and operate share buybacks need to participate more in the current redistribution system, French President Emmanuel Macron said in a televised interview Wednesday, adding that the government is looking at an “exceptional contribution” plan.

13:06pm: Macron seeks to implement pension reform by ‘end of the year’

In a televised interview Wednesday French President Macron said he hopes the recently passed pension reform would be implemented by the end of the year after examination by the Constitutional Council.

“The longer we wait, the more it (the deficit) will deteriorate. This reform is necessary, it does not make me happy. I would have preferred not to do it,” he added.

12:24pm: Macron seeks to ‘calm things down’ with televised interview 

President Emmanuel Macron will look to “calm things down” with a televised interview on Wednesday amid growing anger across France over his plans to raise the retirement age, a source close to the centrist president said.

The question is whether Macron can achieve this. Advisers indicated the 1200 GMT interview would not contain any major policy announcements.

Neither a government reshuffle nor snap elections are on the cards, but rather an attempt to regain the initiative with measures to better involve citizens and unions in decision-making, political leaders in Macron’s camp said.

Click on our live player above to watch the interview. 

(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP & Reuters)