Paris, 18 April 2023 (dpa/MIA) - French President Emmanuel Macron defended his unpopular pension reform in a televised speech on Monday evening, but opponents including the trade unions are still planning further protests.

There was no alternative to raising the retirement age from 62 to 64, Macron said on Monday evening. Otherwise, contributions would have had to be increased or the level of people's pensions would have to be lowered.

"Is this reform accepted? Obviously not, and despite months of consultations, no consensus could be found, and I regret that," Macron said. He said he planned to approach trade unions and employers to discuss the issue.

His comments come after months of escalating protests and strikes that led to street blockades, fires and rubbish piling up uncollected amid public fury at the reforms.

Macron enacted the increase on Saturday night.

The official publication followed approval by the Constitutional Council that declared the plan to gradually raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 years essentially in conformity with the constitution.

Macron and the centre-right government want to prevent a looming hole in the pension fund with the reform. The law is to take effect in September.

Citizens' anger about rising prices must be better addressed by the state, Macron said in his speech. "No one can turn a deaf ear to the demand for social justice and the renewal of our democratic life."

He said he wanted to bring employers and trade unions to the table to discuss higher wages, better distribution of wealth and greater involvement of older people in the workforce.

Macron, whose camp no longer has an absolute majority in parliament, called for new coalitions and alliances though he did not specify with whom.

He struggled to press ahead with the pension reform as the conservative Republicans in opposition gradually withdrew their support for the project.

Macron then pushed the reform through without a final vote in parliament, further increasing opponents' anger.

The trade unions announced plans for further protests.

Macron said he would take stock on the occasion of the bank holidays on July 14, a French national holiday. "Ahead of us are 100 days of appeasement, unity, ambition and action in the service of France," he said.

Next week, Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne should start drawing up the plans.

Photo: EPA