Emmanuel Macron has finally acknowledged errors (Image: REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/Pool)
The young europhile also warned against giving in to the wave of hardline nationalism sweeping across the bloc, as he called for a “strong, united and sovereign” Europe. He said: “When we move ahead too quickly … we make mistakes. I’ve made mistakes in the past, which are part of the explanation for the [yellow vest] crisis. We cannot leave those who need to work, to live, to move face an uncertain future devoid of opportunities," he continued, as he called for “reconciliation” following 16 weeks of sometimes violent anti-government protests.
The yellow vest movement – so-called because of the fluorescent safety jackets all French drivers must carry in their cars – started in mid-November over rising fuel costs and planned fuel tax hikes but quickly morphed into a popular revolt against Mr Macron’s perceived neglect of the working class and pro-business economic policies.
His government has since gone to great lengths to quash the crisis – which is still ongoing – promising to increase the minimum wage, slash taxes for low-income pensioners, tax-free overtime pay and a scuttling of the controversial fuel tax.
Mr Macron also sounded the alarm bell on the rising tide of populism in Europe, as he called for the soon-to-be 27-member bloc to remain “united and sovereign”.
Urging EU states to fight against any form of “retreat into nationalism,” the 41-year-old said countries needed to instead focus on working together to resolve common problems, such as mass immigration from sub-Saharan Africa and economic slowdowns.
The yellow vests have been demonstrating for 16 weeks (Image: REUTERS/Christian Hartmann)
“I do not think that the answer [to Europe’s problems] lies in the simplification of the message of some nationalists,” he said, as he called for a “strong Europe”.
He said: “No
