Emmanuel Macron did not convince the opposition. Left-wing politicians have been criticizing following the intervention of the President of the Republic on Wednesday on TF1 and France 2.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon denounced the “traditional marks of contempt” of the head of state, who made “explosive” remarks according to the first secretary of the PS Olivier Faure, and “offensive” for the chief environmentalist Marine Tondelier.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon denounces the “arrogance” of Emmanuel Macron
“The crowd is to the people what the cry is to the voice”, declared Jean-Luc Mélenchon in reference to a remark by the president on the “crowd” which would have “no legitimacy in the face of the people who express themselves in through its elected officials. “He lives outside of all reality,” added the former presidential candidate at a press conference in Toulouse, mocking “the arrogance” of talking about hardship “even though he has just withdrawn hardship criteria “. “We once again heard the comedy of people who would do nothing” unemployed, “once again the threats against people who unfortunately live in the RSA”, lamented the rebellious.
For his part, Olivier Faure regretted that Emmanuel Macron had “put more explosives on an already well lit blaze”. “It’s amazing, he is in absolute denial,” he added from the National Assembly. Marine Tondelier said for her part on Twitter “frozen by the demonstration of self-satisfaction of the president” who, in her eyes, made “offensive remarks”.
“We are ready to govern”, says Fabien Roussel
The national secretary of the PCF Fabien Roussel saw in the intervention of the president “nothing able to appease the legitimate anger which is expressed against retirement at 64 years old”. “We call for change, for respect for the world of work and for social democracy,” added the communist. “We, left forces and ecologists, are ready to govern”.
Emmanuel Macron affirmed that the reform pushing back the retirement age to 64 must be applied “before the end of the year”, on TF1 and France 2, agreeing “to endorse the unpopularity” and camping on his line of firmness in the face of outbursts in the street.