Domestic unrest interrupts Macron’s European future speech

By MIKE CORDER and SYLVIE CORBET
Associated Press

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron has laid out his vision of a bold, assertive European future, but not before simmering anger at his domestic pension reforms boiled over once more as he began his speech in the Netherlands. Some members of the audience at a theater in The Hague shouted at Macron, accusing him of undemocratically forcing through his plan to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. “I can answer these questions if you give me some time,” Macron responded. The protesters were quickly removed from the hall. In his scripted speech Tuesday, Macron outlined his vision for the future of European sovereignty, saying it should be based on competitiveness, industrial policy, protectionism, reciprocity and cooperation.