By Athena Papakosta

The French are in the streets and Emmanuel Macron will address the French people on television today around 2pm Greek time.

The French president will concede press conference on two television networks, TF1 and France 2 TV. It will be the first time he has spoken publicly since his decision last week to proceed with his incendiary reform of the country’s pension system not through the normal parliamentary process but by presidential decree.

From Emmanuel Macron, the French expect him to defend himself, his reform that raises the retirement age to 64 from 62 years and his government. In particular, according to information, Macron will emphasize that France must be aligned with other countries in the European Union – such as Spain and Germany – where the retirement age is 65 and 67 years.

This, according to the French Media, means that Elisabeth Bourne, the Prime Minister of the Macron government, will not… sacrifice herself.

The French president himself had scheduled for yesterday, Tuesday, a series of contacts with the prime minister and the heads of the two Houses of Parliament as well as with his deputies. The day for these meetings was no coincidence as 24 hours earlier he had managed to survive two motions of censure against his government.

And while Bourne pledges that she will continue to work “in order to find the best possible answers to the concerns of the French”, the reform of the pension system will have to be approved by the country’s Constitutional Council before it becomes – and officially – law. of the French state.

However, the Constitutional Council can reject articles if they are deemed unconstitutional with the opposition – an opponent of the reform counting on rejecting the entire pension “deregulation” as it calls it, signed by Macron.

At the same time, the entire country has turned into an endless battleground with the French capital being the front line of the popular fury. Fierce clashes between police and protesters have not ended with police forces trying every night to disperse the gathered crowd who are calling for the withdrawal of the bill and Macron’s resignation. At least 200 people were arrested on Monday alone.

Both sides are adamant. And the French president seems to continue stubbornly insisting on his opinion that the French should work longer and also the citizens of the countries who renew their appointment, officially, tomorrow Thursday, the day of a new nationwide strike.