国际英语资讯:Frances Macron defends controversial policy in first TV appearance

PARIS, Oct. 15 -- French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday made his first TV appearance since he took office on May 7, aiming to explain his controversial reform, which is criticized by the discontent as favoring the rich.

"I'm the president of all the French," Macron told TF1 television in response to growing critics over his pro-liberal roadmap.

"We're taking care of the France where things aren't going well," the 39-year-old head of state added.

"I'm doing what I said I would do during the election campaign...There will always be resistances, comments ... I am not here to manage or reform, but to transform," he stressed.

Macron's approval ratings have tumbled since his election five months ago, pulled down by labor reforms, budget cuts, and the decrease in housing subsidies.

An ifop poll released in September showed 53 percent of respondents were dissatisfied with the president's policy. Although down from 57 percent recorded in August, it remains high.

In further sign of growing social pressure, the novice liberal top official was scorched by first street protests against his proposal to scrap the wealth tax and lessen labor rules, that opponents say are not in favor of low-income workers.

TWO YEARS PROMISE

In a 70-minute interview, Macron cited long-running rise in jobless claims as an example of "French weakness."

He said, "For our society to get better, we need people who succeed. We shouldn't be jealous of them, we should say: 'fantastic'."

"Unemployment rate is gradually decreasing. You'll see the full impact of the reforms carried out by the government in one and half to two years," said the president.

According to Macron, the new labor law will offer "the flexibility" to the small enterprises to enable them to create employment.

To his promise to bring down unemployment rate, which currently stands at 9.7 percent, Macron said 15 billion euros (17.72 billion U.S. dollars) will be earmarked for training of jobseekers.

"The unemployed need much more training. The long-term people without work are often men and women who do not have the skills that enable them to find job," he said.

DIPLOMATIC AGENDA

Speaking about Washington's decision not to certify Iran nuclear deal, Macron said "I explained (to the American president) that it was not a good idea to harden things with Iran."

Confirming Paris disagreement over U.S. handling of Iranian crisis, the French president stressed the necessity "of exigent dialogue" with Teheran.

He, meanwhile, announced that he would visit Iran "at the right time." If confirmed, it would be French top official's first travel to the country since 1976.

Asked about the uNPRedictable foreign policy of the U.S. president, Macron said "the United States remains our key ally in the fight against terrorism in the Middle East and the Sahel."

"I am constantly talking with the American president," he said, adding, even if there are differences on climate and Iran issues.

"We have to root U.S. president into multilateralism," he said. (1 euro=1.181 U.S. dollar)