Far-right leader Marine Le Pen warns French President Macron

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen warned on March 21 that President Emmanuel Macron was pushing the country to the brink of a “ social explosion” with his controversial pension reform.

“ The government is consciously creating all the conditions for a social explosion, and that was foreseeable for months, as if they were looking for it,” Ms Le Pen told the French news agency AFP in an interview.

Speaking from her office in parliament , Ms Le Pen said she had told French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne last September that she would not try to restrain her supporters if Mr Macron forced the French parliament to pass the changes without a vote.

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen at the French National Assembly in Paris, March 16, 2023. Photo: AP/NY Sun

Earlier, on March 16, Mr. Macron's government announced at the last minute its decision to use special powers under Article 49.3 of the French Constitution to pass a pension reform bill, raising the retirement age from 62 to 64, without a vote from lawmakers.

The move has sparked outrage in both parliament and the French streets, triggering two no-confidence votes aimed at bringing down the government, one of which was submitted by her far-right National Rally party.

Although Mr Macron's government survived two no-confidence votes, a wave of anger still gripped the country.

“I will not participate a second time in putting out the fire you have started,” she said, referring to the French government.

Ms Le Pen said she acted as a “firefighter” in 2018-2019 when the Yellow Vest protests – aimed at opposing President Macron’s economic policies – turned into riots in Paris.

Now, amid widespread anger over the way the pension reform bill was passed, French police arrested nearly 300 people nationwide between the night of March 20 and early March 21 as protesters took to the streets in cities including Paris, Dijon and Strasbourg.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on March 21 that there had been 1,200 spontaneous protests across the country since March 16, while 94 police officers had been injured.

“I don’t know what will happen. The French people feel angry, they feel humiliated and they feel that the rules of our democracy have been broken,” Ms Le Pen told AFP.

Protests at Place de la Concorde in Paris after the French government pushed pension reforms through parliament without a vote, using Article 49.3 of the French Constitution. According to the French Interior Ministry, there have been 1,200 spontaneous protests across the country since March 16, 2023, while 94 police officers have been injured. Photo: Getty Images

Many commentators believe Ms Le Pen will benefit politically from the chaos and anger caused by Mr Macron's tactics, thanks in part to her longstanding commitment to consulting voters through referendums on how the government runs the country.

Meanwhile, Mr Macron’s approach to the unrest could add to the French leader’s recent difficulties. Broader legislative issues, such as immigration, investment , aid to Ukraine and climate, could all face stiff opposition from lawmakers, and Mr Macron’s pension reform plan in particular.

Recent opinion polls show that about 70% of French people oppose raising the retirement age.

For her part, the 54-year-old far-right politician has urged the French president to hold either a referendum – which he would almost certainly lose, or new elections for the French parliament – which polls show her far-right National Rally party is likely to win a number of seats.

As head of the National Rally, Ms. Le Pen was defeated by Mr. Macron twice in the French presidential elections in 2017 and 2022. But in the parliamentary elections last June, Mr. Macron's party lost its parliamentary majority, while Ms. Le Pen's party achieved its best result in the elections, with 89 seats in the 577-seat parliament .

Minh Duc (According to AFP/Yahoo!News, TIME)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/lanh-dao-cuc-huu-marine-le-pen-canh-bao-tong-thong-phap-macron-a599139.html