Macron-Gov't Talks To Unions; Protests Do Not Mean Everything Must Stop

Wires carrying comments from President Emmanuel Macron regarding the ongoing industrial and social unrest in the country. States that "There is ongoing dialogue between gov't and the unions." Macron: "Pensions reform bill must be examined by France's highest court" The Constitutional Council is set to deliver its ruling on 14 April.

• Says that it is "Normal that unions express themselves, their demonstrations were calm.'
• Macron: "There is a social protest [regarding the] reform, but that does not mean that everything has to stop."
• The gov't remains under significant pressure to backtrack on the pension reforms. Macron finds himself in a difficult position, with a backtrack stripping him of significant political capital in his inability to pass one of his key reforms. However, if he holds out and protests and strikes continue it will continue to damage France's economic prospects and risk further social instability.