Emmanuel Macron heckled during his speech on Europe in the Netherlands

The protesters unfurled a banner reading "President of violence and hypocrisy." The Hague, 11 April 2023. AP - Peter Dejong

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While speaking on European sovereignty to students at the Nexus Institute in The Hague, French President Emmanuel Macron was interrupted by protesters.

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Emmanuel Macron had just begun his speech on European sovereignty in the Amare theater room when young protesters challenged him from the stands. "Where is French democracy?" they shouted, unfurling a banner reading in English: "President of violence and hypocrisy." "You have millions of demonstrators in the streets," they said, referring to the large demonstrations organized since the beginning of the year against the pension reform.

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This is a democracy and a democracy is exactly a place where one can protest. ", replied the Head of State when he was able to resume the floor after a minute of interruption. But "the day you say to yourself 'when I disagree with the law that has been passed or the people who have been elected, I can do whatever I want, because I decide for myself the legitimacy of what I do,' you put democracy at risk," he continued.

► READ ALSO: Emmanuel Macron visits the Netherlands against the backdrop of pension crisis

According to Emmanuel Macron, reforms such as those of pensions are necessary to ensure Europe's competitiveness, one of the five pillars to be consolidated according to him to ensure European sovereignty, along with industrial policy, the protection of strategic interests, reciprocity and cooperation. "We need this industrial policy because our competitors interfere in the European market," insisted the French president, calling for increased subsidies and "good incentives". At the end of his forty-minute speech in English, the president answered some questions from the students, this time without incident.

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Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte were welcomed on Tuesday with military honors and national anthems at the Royal Palace of Amsterdam by King Willem-Alexander and his wife Maxima, for this first state visit of a French president to this country since 2000. Hundreds of people had gathered behind barriers to watch the presidential couple pass.

The King and Queen of the Netherlands were to give a state dinner in their honour in the evening, with Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme among the distinguished guests, as both countries share the same passion for cycling and the Grande Boucle. This state visit marks a rapprochement between the two countries since the decision in 2016 of the United Kingdom to leave the EU which has reshuffled the cards within the Union. The Netherlands then lost a traditional ally on the European scene that led it to diversify its cooperation.

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And with AFP)

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  • France
  • Emmanuel Macron
  • Netherlands
  • European Union