It does not escape contestation, even abroad. Emmanuel Macron, who began a state visit to the Netherlands on Tuesday, was briefly interrupted at the start of his speech by several demonstrators in the stands, banners in hand. “You have millions of people in the street, (…) how can you talk about Europe? We could hear in English, the demonstrators denouncing pension reform and climate inaction.
“I think we have lost something: where is French democracy? », « You have bypassed Parliament again », « The Climate Convention is not respected », « When are you going to listen to the millions of people in the street? they shouted, before being expelled from the room. “President of violence and hypocrisy”, denounced a sign.
If the speech was to be centered on Europe and its sovereignty, Emmanuel Macron therefore still broached the subject of pension reform. A way for him to defend himself: “I would like to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 and when I compare (this starting age), in other countries, it goes well beyond 64 years”, he said, without mentioning the durations of annuities which are different. “These reforms are essential,” insisted Emmanuel Macron again.
A two-day state visit
Emmanuel Macron began a two-day state visit to the Netherlands on Tuesday, the first of a French president in this country for 23 years. It is largely focused on Europe and should be an opportunity to clarify his controversial remarks made in China. The president, who had just returned from Beijing, was welcomed with military honors and national anthems at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam at 10 a.m. by King Willem-Alexander and his wife Maxima.
After a reception followed by a private lunch, the Dutch royal couple will give a state dinner in their honor on Tuesday, with among the distinguished guests the singer Dave, of Dutch origin and very popular in France, and the director of the Tour of France Christian Prudhomme, the two countries sharing the same passion for cycling and the Great Loop. This well-established ceremony may have a bitter taste for the presidential couple, two weeks after the cancellation of the visit of King Charles III to Paris against a backdrop of social conflagration around the pension reform.