In Celeste, eastern France, crowds of residents on Wednesday greeted President Emmanuel Macron with loud chants of condemnation and protest as he arrived in Alsace on his first trip outside Paris after signing an unpopular pension reform law.
In Celeste, eastern France, crowds of residents on Wednesday greeted President Emmanuel Macron with loud chants of condemnation and protest as he arrived in Alsace on his first trip outside Paris after signing an unpopular pension reform law.
Aides to the president had urged Macron to meet with voters after signing the law that sparked widespread protests, with some worried he would isolate himself too much in the presidential palace.
However, when Macron arrived in Celeste, demands for resignation, loud boos and jeers could be heard from the waiting crowd.
Asked by reporters what he thought of such a welcome, Macron said: “It’s been worse.”
True, there were also some people who expressed words of encouragement to the president, including a pensioner who encouraged Macron to continue his work.
Macron commented: “There are people who are dissatisfied. Everyone has the right to express themselves. However, after that, the country must continue on its way forward.”
Macron’s political opponents and union leaders have urged protesters to continue their campaign against the pension reform law, and have also called for mass protests on May 1.
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