Emmanuel Macron insists pension reform is necessary in TV address

Emmanuel Macron has said he has heard the public’s anger over his contested pension reform which has sparked three months of protests but insisted once again the measure was necessary.

In a televised address late on Monday, the French president said he regretted no “common ground” could be reached over the legislation which raises the official retirement age from 62 to 64.
The measures “needed to guarantee everyone’s pension” will come into effect in stages from the autumn, he said.

He admitted increasing prices and certain jobs “don’t allow many French people to live well”, but insisted that “gradually working more means also producing more wealth for the whole nation”.