In the North, Castex boasts of a Macron listening to the "suffering" of the French

Europe 1 with AFP 10:36 p.m., April 19, 2022

Prime Minister Jean Castex took issue with the image of a "haughty" Emmanuel Macron, describing him on the contrary as full of "consideration" for the French people whose suffering he wants to "alleviate", during a trip to the North on Tuesday.

President's ability to make 'tough decisions'

Emmanuel Macron "is an extremely committed man, who has a vision of the country but also has a deep knowledge of his fellow citizens", assured Jean Castex during a public meeting in Halluin, a town on the Belgian border which granted 30 19% of votes for Marine Le Pen in the first round, ahead of Emmanuel Macron (28.08%)

He highlighted "the interest he takes in them, his deep consideration" and his "concern to alleviate their suffering", far from the image of a "haughty man, who does not listen", that he sometimes send back the French.

Insisting on the ability of the outgoing President to take difficult but essential decisions for the future, the Prime Minister mentioned the pension reform, believing that "it is better to shift the retirement age to allow millions of pensioners to to live better, to have a better addiction taken care of".

In front of some 300 people, the Prime Minister left it to Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, who was accompanying him, to attack Marine Le Pen, his "unfundable program", his "demagogy" and his "promises without a future" .

Castex praises the "reindustrialization" carried out under the five-year term

On the question of France's place within the European Union, "any step back would be deadly", also warned Mr. Castex, assuring that the EU had ceased "to be only a place of free trade" to become increasingly political under the French Presidency of the Council.

During this trip to the North, the Prime Minister first visited the weaving company Lemaitre Demeestere, whose linen products are made 100% in France, welcoming the relocation of spinning activities, accompanied by the revival, and the potential of this sector.

While saying he understood the "concern" of the French, he praised the "reindustrialization" carried out under this five-year term, insisting on its compatibility with the ecological transition.

"At the end of the end, in the secrecy of the voting booth, everyone must say to themselves 'what is best for my country, who will safeguard the identity, the values ​​on which the country is founded?'", he then summed up to reporters;

during a stroll in downtown Halluin, between two selfies with locals.