Pensions: Macron says that "the crowd" has "no legitimacy in the face of the people who express themselves through their elected representatives"

Europe 1 with AFP 21:40 p.m., March 21, 2023

Emmanuel Macron warned Tuesday night that "the crowd" demonstrating against the pension reform had "no legitimacy in the face of the people who express themselves sovereign through their elected officials," according to a participant in a meeting with parliamentarians from his camp at the Elysee. Promising to defend "the democratic and republican order", the Head of State hammered, after the adoption by Parliament of his text via Article 49.3 of the Constitution: "the riot does not prevail over the representatives of the people".

The head of state also said it was necessary to "appease" and "listen to the anger" of the French after the contested adoption of his pension reform by Parliament, reported participants in this meeting at the Elysee. "Using the Constitution to pass a reform is always a good thing if we want to be respectful of our institutions," said the president to justify the use of 49.3 decried by opponents of his text, ensuring that there was "no alternative majority". He promised to "move forward" on "health, school and ecology", whilst organising "the society of full employment".

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