France's President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech as he addresses his New Year's wishes to media at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, Jan 11, 2022. (LUDOVIC MARIN / POOL VIA AP)
PARIS – French President Emmanuel Macron presented on Thursday his program for the presidential elections to be held in April.
At a press conference, Macron laid out his reform plans that cover a broad range of sectors: the economy, culture, agriculture, defense, education, the workplace, gender equality, welfare, households, seniors and the country's institutions.
Macron said that pensions reform will be one of his government's priority projects if elected to a second term. He plans to raise the legal retirement age to 65 and to propose a minimum pension of 1,100 euros
"We must make France a more independent nation within a strong Europe," he said.
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To achieve this goal, he said the government would have to invest 30 billion euros ($33.3 billion) in various high-growth sectors.
Macron's goal for the next five years is "to develop 100 percent French sectors" to wean the country off its dependence on imported energy and industrial goods.
He said that his aim would be to increase the share of renewable energy at the national grid level, build more nuclear reactors and promote investments by public institutions and private companies.
His government, he said, would aim to turn the country greener by ensuring broad access to affordable electric vehicles, including through leasing programs.
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Over the next ten years, Macron plans to invest 25 billion euros in research.
His public administration reform plans aim to improve social and labor welfare, he said.
He said that pensions reform will be one of his government's priority projects if elected to a second term. He plans to raise the legal retirement age to 65 and to propose a minimum pension of 1,100 euros.
