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France protests: Macron takes off watch during TV interview | |
(about 16 hours later) | |
Macron removes luxury watch during interview | Macron removes luxury watch during interview |
Macron removes luxury watch during interview | Macron removes luxury watch during interview |
French President Emmanuel Macron has been criticised after he removed his watch during an interview about pension changes. | |
France is gripped by protests and strikes over Mr Macron's decision to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. | France is gripped by protests and strikes over Mr Macron's decision to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. |
Mr Macron's representatives said the president took off the watch because it was "clinking on the table". | Mr Macron's representatives said the president took off the watch because it was "clinking on the table". |
But his critics have claimed the watch shows he is out of touch with the public. | But his critics have claimed the watch shows he is out of touch with the public. |
Some wrongly claimed it was worth up to €80,000 ($86,000; £70,000), but the Élysée Palace said this was not correct. | Some wrongly claimed it was worth up to €80,000 ($86,000; £70,000), but the Élysée Palace said this was not correct. |
The incident happened part way through an interview on Wednesday, when Mr Macron was justifying his reasons for lifting the pension age. | The incident happened part way through an interview on Wednesday, when Mr Macron was justifying his reasons for lifting the pension age. |
As he rested his forearms on the table, a thud could be heard. | As he rested his forearms on the table, a thud could be heard. |
The president then placed his hands under the table as he continued talking. When he brought them back up, the watch had been removed. | The president then placed his hands under the table as he continued talking. When he brought them back up, the watch had been removed. |
His team insisted the removal was entirely innocent. But the missing timepiece quickly drew his critics' attention. | His team insisted the removal was entirely innocent. But the missing timepiece quickly drew his critics' attention. |
Now you see it... French President Emmanuel Macron removed his watch during an interview about his controversial pension changes | Now you see it... French President Emmanuel Macron removed his watch during an interview about his controversial pension changes |
Clémence Guetté, an MP for the opposition left-wing La France Insoumise party, has been taking part in the protests against the pension reform. | Clémence Guetté, an MP for the opposition left-wing La France Insoumise party, has been taking part in the protests against the pension reform. |
She tweeted that as the president was claiming minimum wage earners had unprecedented purchasing power, "the final image" was him "removing his pretty luxury watch". | She tweeted that as the president was claiming minimum wage earners had unprecedented purchasing power, "the final image" was him "removing his pretty luxury watch". |
"The president of the rich has never worn his name so well," said her colleague, Farida Amrani. | "The president of the rich has never worn his name so well," said her colleague, Farida Amrani. |
The exact cost of the watch was debated online, with some of Mr Macron's critics suggesting it was worth €80,000. | The exact cost of the watch was debated online, with some of Mr Macron's critics suggesting it was worth €80,000. |
But the Élysée Palace told French media the president was wearing a Bell & Ross BR V1-92 model, which is personalised with a coat of arms. | But the Élysée Palace told French media the president was wearing a Bell & Ross BR V1-92 model, which is personalised with a coat of arms. |
Prices online for this watch, without the personalisation, are between €1,660 and €3,300 (£1,460 and £2,900). | Prices online for this watch, without the personalisation, are between €1,660 and €3,300 (£1,460 and £2,900). |
"He has been wearing it very regularly for more than a year and a half," the palace added in a statement. | "He has been wearing it very regularly for more than a year and a half," the palace added in a statement. |
Mr Macron has long been criticised by his political rivals for supporting the wealthy. | Mr Macron has long been criticised by his political rivals for supporting the wealthy. |
In February, he came under attack for giving Jeff Bezos, one of the richest men in the world, France's highest honour, while people were on the streets protesting about their financial futures. | In February, he came under attack for giving Jeff Bezos, one of the richest men in the world, France's highest honour, while people were on the streets protesting about their financial futures. |
He has argued the changes to the retirement age are a "necessity" to keep the pension budget from running into deficit. | He has argued the changes to the retirement age are a "necessity" to keep the pension budget from running into deficit. |
His government decided last week to use a special constitutional power to force through the reform without a vote, after realising they would struggle to pass in the National Assembly. The move triggered two no-confidence votes, which the government survived. | His government decided last week to use a special constitutional power to force through the reform without a vote, after realising they would struggle to pass in the National Assembly. The move triggered two no-confidence votes, which the government survived. |
The controversy has renewed unrest across the country, which began in January when the plans were unveiled. | The controversy has renewed unrest across the country, which began in January when the plans were unveiled. |
A visit by King Charles III this weekend has had to be postponed as a result. | A visit by King Charles III this weekend has had to be postponed as a result. |
Alongside the protests, there have been widespread strikes that have involved transport workers, teachers, rubbish collectors and oil refinery workers. | Alongside the protests, there have been widespread strikes that have involved transport workers, teachers, rubbish collectors and oil refinery workers. |
Related Topics | Related Topics |
France | France |
Emmanuel Macron | Emmanuel Macron |
France pension reforms | France pension reforms |