Macron's recent TV appearance fails to calm down protestors instead sparks anger

Since last week, when Emmanuel Macron pushed through his proposals to increase retirement in France, popular outr at alteration to a tenaciously guarded aspect of French social policy has been simmering. r culminated on Thursday night, ninth day of countrywide demonstrations since January.

video from Bordeaux, where municipal hall's doors were set ablaze following a day of escalating street action, served as most obvious manifestation of unrest. Firefighters responded promptly and extinguished fire. But it was obvious that Macron's initiatives were unpopular across nation. number of people in streets was estimated by police to be 1.1 million, but unions estimated it to be closer to 3.5 million.

A scheduled state visit by King Charles on Sunday was postponed on Friday as a result of unrest, which caused French president great humiliation. scale of larger movement and ferocity of conflicts between demonstrators and police indicate that struggle against changes is far from over.

'I have t succeeded in convincing people of necessity of this reform': Macron

If any of Macron's critics were looking for a signal of moderation during his live TV appearance on Wednesday to justify his proposal to increase official retirement in France from 62 to 64, y were sadly let down.

In addition to rejecting calls for a reorganisation of his administration or resignation of his prime minister, Élisabeth Borne, Macron ruled out any changes to wildly unpopular policy. He said his sole regret was that he had failed to persuade people of need for this reform.

protestors' ire is t just directed at Macron's handling of crisis or even pension reforms; it was one of factors that led to size and intensity of Thursday's action. y claim that greater worries about condition of French democracy have been sparked by president's decision to push reforms through without a vote.