The 100 days of action French President Emmanuel Macron announced to ease tensions around his widely contested pension reform "do not constitute a change of course", says government spokesperson Olivier Veran.

Briefing journalists after a cabinet meeting, Veran said the government wanted to "do more with all those who are willing to accept the hand extended".

"I obviously salute the action of the CFDT with Laurent Berger at the head of this union, he is free to decide when he stops his mandate and he will have been a serious, demanding, sometimes tough partner, we have seen it, and with whom we have been able to make significant progress for our country in terms of social rights or changes in work. The latest agreement on enterprise value-sharing means that as soon as a company with more than ten employees makes a profit, employees will see some of that, and this is also down to this quality of social dialogue," he added.

He explained: "These 100 days ahead of us do not constitute a change of course, a political shift, or a big reset. On the contrary, it is the will to continue to do better, to do more, with all those who are willing to accept the hand extended, even if there have been disagreements on form or substance."

"Each of us has a mission to go out in society, the president is obviously the best ambassador of the policy that has led this country for six years, so he will also need to travel today in Alsace, tomorrow it will be about the issue of schools. Next week for issues that are undoubtedly sovereign, so everyone takes part in this highlighting of what has been done, of what also remains to be done to improve the daily life of the French people, I will do it myself tomorrow in the Var department," he said.

He continued: "I do not share the observation of a democratic crisis at all. Our institutions have worked, completely. There is a crisis of trust, a crisis of trust in institutions. A crisis of trust in political representation. A crisis of trust that does not stop at the pension reform, far from it, and it is a crisis of trust that is not limited to France, that you can see in many democracies in the world, and that must make us ask questions. Moreover, it does make us ask questions to the point where the President of the Republic has called for a ministry to handle these issues: 'Democratic Renewal'."

"So first of all, I personally salute Carrefour’s approach, because when you’re suffering and it’s monthly and you’re having a hard time going to work, It has to be recognized, and I think it’s part of this great movement of equal rights between women and men in our country. As you said yourself, both communities and businesses are involved. I am not sure that the answer should be legislative, but it is to encourage social dialogue, where it is possible, where it makes sense, where there is a will to spread it," he concluded.