Demonstrations have been going on for months in France over high taxes, stagnant wages and unemployment.
Emmanuel Macron has pledged to reduce taxes for the middle class and warned of the threat of illegal immigration in a bid to end five months of yellow vest protests.
In a televised speech from the Elysee Palace, the French leader said he was committed to tackling the issues raised by the demonstrators - including high taxes, stagnant wages and unemployment. He also unveiled measures to boost pensions, help single parents, ensure a more representative parliament and ease rules on referendums, which he hopes will take the edge of protests that have gone on for 23 consecutive weeks.On immigration, the president said:"To be welcoming, you need to have a house. So we need borders, borders to be respected, we need rules."
And in what might be viewed as another Brexit barb, he said of referendums:"I don't believe in permanent referendums, because referendums don't allow for difficult decisions at the time when they must be made."It remains to be seen whether his intervention will have the desired impact, with critics likely to dismiss his proposals as too little too late.
Mr Macron has already made some concessions, including scrapping tax rises for fuel and on retirees, and bringing in a monthly bonus to increase the minimum wage, but they have made little difference.
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