‘French hate reform – but France WILL be transformed’: Macron insists change will be made

It follows Mr promising a wrath of cuts, demands which have seen him slump in the polls.

Speaking yesterday, he said: “ is not a country that can be reformed. Many have tried, and failed, because the French hate reform. 

“If they find a loophole that allows them to avoid implementing reforms, they will exploit it. The general population hates the idea of change.” 

He made the comments during a speech addressed to the French expatriate community in Bucharest, Romania.

The president added: “It is therefore the government’s duty to explain reform, and to tell citizens why they are being implemented. People need reassurance, they need to know whether their country is going in the right direction.”

The French, he added, have incredibly high aspirations and expectations, but are, as a nation, non-conformist.

Mr Macron said: “The French expect a profound transformation … but France is a country that is only truly itself once it takes on challenges that are bigger than itself. 

“The French are not interested in adopting reforms that will allow the country to meet fixed benchmarks… Our country isn’t like that.

“Citizens need to know that the social and economic reforms being imposed on them will deeply transform France, that they will enable France to fulfil its destiny as a major European power and as a beacon of universalism. Because those are the things the French believe are worth fighting for.”

He added: “France will be transformed. Because voters made the slightly mad choice to back a new political movement and elected a wildcard as president. France will, in the near future, become the voice of the free world.”

It follows Poland mocking France for its current work practices.

Polish foreign minister Witold Waszczykowski angry response came after Mr Macron vowed to reduce the number eastern European workers coming to France.

The Warsaw minister said: “The French economy is not at the moment able to compete with the vibrant economies of many European countries, including Poland.

“This is because French workers have enormous social benefits. The working week for many French workers is four, five working days.”