AFP/Twitter Huffpost Editorial
Elon Musk supports the French government and its pension reform.
POLICY. This is, at the very least, unexpected support that the government could do without. In a tweet written on Friday, January 20, billionaire Elon Musk spoke out in favor of the pension reform that pushed 1 to 2 million French people onto the streets on Thursday.
Macron made a difficult but fair choice. The retirement age of 62 was set when life expectancy was much lower. A small number of workers cannot support a huge number of retirees,” the new Twitter CEO said, responding to a video showing a compact crowd of protesters in Lyon.
@WallStreetSilv Macron is doing the hard but right thing. The retirement age of 62 was set when life expectancy was… https://t.co/AB1nY54gjR
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk)
See tweet
In this pension reform project, Emmanuel Macron and Elisabeth Born propose, in particular, to lower the retirement age to 64 years (compared to today’s 62 years) and to speed up the calendar period for paying contributions. Unacceptable to many French people who consider the text unfair.
Musk and Macron met before, but not because of pensions
Nupes MP Antoine Leoman responded to the South African entrepreneur on the same social network. “Reform supported by a billionaire is ALWAYS a bad and useless reform,” he said in the first place. Then add (in English): “The French once abolished the privileges of aristocrats. Soon the French will again begin for the privileges of the rich. Enjoy yours. The end is near. »
A reform supported by a billionaire is ALWAYS bad and useless reform. It’s impossible for… https://t.co/Zlsx7PkI27
— Antoine Leoman 🇫🇷 (@ALeaument)
See tweet
❌ Wrong. ➡️ A massive number of workers cannot support a small number of billionaires. 🇬🇧 French… https://t.co/AhnMzSWrdQ
— Antoine Leoman 🇫🇷 (@ALeaument)
See tweet
“Choose your side. Capital or work,” Insoumis leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon also responded. LFI MEP Manon Aubry added: “80% of the French oppose but support billionaire Elon Musk. If you still doubt that retirement is in 64 years was a class reform…
Choose your side. capital or labor. #March21January https://t.co/YRp3YyGwqE
— Jean-Luc Melenchon (@JLMelenchon)
See tweet
The opposition is 80% of the French, but the support of billionaire Elon Musk. If you still doubt that retirement at 64… https://t.co/1EMi2f8tAz
— Manon Aubry (@ManonAubryFr)
See tweet
Emmanuel Macron and Elon Musk met during the visit of the French President to the United States in December last year. The two men reportedly talked about electric vehicles and Twitter. I’m not sure, however, that they mentioned the state pension reform.
The billionaire, who has already been criticized for the erratic management of Twitter, is unlikely to win back the hearts of the French with his remark. The latter are already going on January 31 for a new mobilization, regardless of the opinion of Elon Musk.
See also The Huffpost: