French President Emmanuel Macron was interrupted by protesters during an intervention in front of Nexus Institute students April 11, 2023 in The Hague, Netherlands ( AFP / Ludovic MARIN )
French President Emmanuel Macron was embroiled in protests against his pension reform as he addressed students on the future of Europe during a state visit to the Netherlands on Tuesday.
“Where is French democracy?” shouted young protesters from the theater platform where he began his speech in The Hague, unfurling a banner that read “President of Violence and Hypocrisy” in English.
“They have millions of protesters in the streets,” they launched, while the French government has faced a strong challenge since the beginning of the year for its reform, which aims to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.
“This is a democracy, and a democracy is exactly a place where you can demonstrate,” the head of state replied when he was able to speak again after a minute’s interruption.
A banner reading “President of Violence and Hypocrisy” in English unfurled during an intervention by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Nexus Institute on April 11, 2023 in The Hague, Netherlands ( AFP / Ludovic MARIN )
But “the day you say to yourself + if I don’t agree with the law passed or the people elected, I can do what I want because I myself decide the legitimacy of what I do + , you put risk democracy,” he said.
His decision to use the “49.3” procedure, ie the adoption of the text without a vote involving the responsibility of his government, sparked the protest in France with violent demonstrations.
– “Not so easy” –
The President was also awaited at the exit by around thirty young French people who chanted: “Macron, we are here for the honor of workers and for a better world!”
“Reform is not easy,” said King Willem-Alexander at a state banquet in honor of his host.
“For us, for Europe and for the whole world, it is important that France is strong, prosperous and self-confident,” he stressed, welcoming the French President’s “vision and energy” for the future of the EU.
French President Emmanuel Macron during an intervention at the Nexus Institute, April 11, 2023 in The Hague, Netherlands ( AFP / Ludovic MARIN )
In his half-hour speech, the head of state, who has just returned from Beijing, pleaded for greater economic autonomy for Europe, but did not return to his controversial statements on China and Taiwan.
His appeal to Europeans not to “follow along” with interviews in China, Taiwan versus Beijing or Washington and to “rely less on the Americans” on defense issues has sparked an outcry.
Statements that were interpreted as distancing themselves from Taiwan, while the United States itself is deeply involved in Ukraine, provoked strong reactions from leading American lawmakers.
“Macron, who is a friend, is kissing ass with China,” former President Donald Trump commented in an interview with Fox News, referring to the Chinese leader.
– Royal pomp –
Eastern Europeans, long under Moscow’s yoke, also remain very attached to NATO and American protection, particularly since the war in Ukraine, and view French-backed European defenses with suspicion.
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron were received in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on April 11, 2023 (AFP / Ludovic MARIN)
In a form of clarification, the French Presidency stressed that Mr. Macron had never asked Europe to “take an equal distance” from the United States and China. “The United States is our allies, we share common values,” she said.
Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte were received with military honors by King Willem-Alexander and his wife Maxima at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam this morning for the first state visit by a French President to the Netherlands since 2000.
In the evening, royal splendor was used for the state dinner, with waiters in livery, porcelain with naturalistic motifs and imposing flower arrangements.
On the menu: imperial caviar pearls, asparagus cream with prawns, tournedos and coffee dessert, accompanied by great French wines, Chassagne-Montrachet and Margaux.
For his part, during the toast, President Macron praised the “combined power of work and freedom” in the Netherlands, “the moral handwriting of your people”.
(lr) Queen Maxima, French President Emmanuel Macron, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and French First Lady Brigitte Macron at a state dinner at the Royal Palace on April 11, 2023 in Amsterdam ( POOL / Ludovic Marin)
Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme was among the guests of honor, the two countries sharing the same passion for cycling and the Great Loop.
This state visit confirms the rapprochement between the two countries since Brexit in 2016. On Wednesday, the two governments will sign a “pact for innovations” in the fields of semiconductors and quantum physics.
Brigitte Macron and the Queen will also visit the Anne Frank House.
The Presidential couple will also visit the Vermeer exhibition at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam in the evening, accompanied by the King and Queen, before returning to Paris.