Abidjan (AFP)
Emmanuel Macron estimated Saturday from Abidjan that it was "good to know how to break", calling the strikers opposed to the pension reform "to the spirit of responsibility" and hoping that "triumph over collective intelligence".
"Strike movements are justified, they are constitutionally protected. But I believe that there are times in the life of a nation where it is also good to know how to break to respect families and the lives of families", a stressed the head of state at a press conference alongside his Ivorian counterpart, while the first weekend of the Christmas holidays was marked by new major disruptions in transport.
"Everyone will understand that the truce does not mean acceptance or abandonment. But simply the spirit of responsibility is the respect due to the French men and women who are sometimes separated and want to find themselves at this moment of celebration", added President Macron by answering - a rare occurrence - to a question concerning French news during a trip abroad.
"I hope that collective intelligence will triumph," said the head of state again, assuring that "there will be no truce for the government during this period, given our commitments and the importance of the situation".
A time hoped for by the government, a Christmas truce in the movement launched 17 days ago against the pension reform has not materialized.
The first weekend of the Christmas holidays thus remained marked by "very disturbed" SNCF traffic, which put the nerves of travelers to the test on Saturday and promised to be just as difficult on Sunday, as at RATP.
"Things are improving," said Emmanuel Macron, however. "Solutions have been developed, following our requests, especially for young children traveling alone. And we will continue to work."
After announcing the suspension for the weekend of its service taking care of 4-14 year olds, the SNCF announced Friday that it could reinstate it for Sunday with 5,000 seats on 14 exceptional TGVs.
"I trust the spirit of responsibility and the conscience of those who work in these large public companies which make us proud and which make them proud," he insisted.
© 2019 AFP