Paris: Europe and the Arabs
French President Emmanuel Macron issued warnings of the consequences of far-right leader Marine Le Pen's accession to power in the French presidential elections scheduled for 2027.
In an interview with the French newspaper "Le Parisien", Macron, who is not allowed by the constitution to run for a third consecutive term, warned that "Marine Le Pen will arrive at the Elysee Palace in the event that we are not able to face the challenges in the country, and if we continue to deny reality."
The popularity of the French president declined during the last period against the background of the issuance of the controversial law to reform the retirement system, which basically provides for raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 years.
Macron's statements come after an opinion poll showed that more than 70% of the French are dissatisfied with his performance, in a significant decline in his popularity, and this percentage is close to the lowest level of Macron's popularity (23%) that was recorded in December 2018, at the height of the "yellow vests" crisis. ".
Macron's popularity declined against the backdrop of this law, which was not popular among French citizens. Rather, anger increased in the French street, and the country witnessed popular protests after the bill was passed under Article 49.3 of the constitution, which allows the law to be passed without a parliamentary vote.
Since the bill was introduced, the French president has left his prime minister, Elisabeth Bourne, at the forefront of the scene to promote and defend this law, repeatedly emphasizing its importance.
Macron said, during his interview with “Le Parisien”: “Perhaps the mistake committed was that I was not present enough to give content to this reform and push it myself. I must re-engage in the public debate, because some things are not clear, so I do it everywhere.” He reaffirmed the necessity of this law to fill the deficit, and thus start new projects.
Macron stressed that the anger expressed by the French over the reform of the pension system "will not prevent me from continuing to move" around the country.
Macron's statements also come on the eve of the anniversary of his re-election as President of France for a second term, when he outperformed his rival Le Pen in the second round of the 2022 elections. Therefore, Macron warned that Marine Le Pen would arrive at the Elysee Palace "if we are not able to face the challenges in the country, and if We continued to deny the reality," according to what was reported by the Middle East News Agency today, Monday
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