French President Emmanuel Macron came under fire on Thursday after a remark directed against union activists fuelled accusations from opponents that he shows contempt for disgruntled workers.
The pro-business president made the comment on Wednesday while visiting the central town of Egletons, referring to trade unionists who clashed with police during a rally against layoffs at the region's GM&S auto parts plant."Some, instead of stirring up shit, would be better off looking for work" at a foundry in Ussel, Macron said. The foundry, located 140 kilometres from the auto plant, is having difficulties finding workers.
He said on Thursday that he was "standing by the substance" of his remarks -- which were made in conversation with a regional official -- and would have chosen his words differently in a more formal context.
The remark follows several others seen as dismissive of ordinary people or critics, contributing to a steep drop in popularity for the 39-year-old centrist since his election in May.
Last month, days before a union-led protest against his flagship labour reforms, Macron said he would not back down "to slackers, cynics and extremists".
The remark became a rallying cry for protesters who coined slogans such as "Slackers of the world, unite!"
"Macron does it again," the opposition Socialist Party said in a tweet, calling on the president to "watch his language and respect the French people".
A lawmaker of the hard-left France Unbowed party, Adrien Quatennens, said Macron "doesn't know what it means to look for work."
But government spokesman Christophe Castaner defended Macron, saying presidents should be able "to use the words we all use".
Macron has sought to restore lost prestige to the presidency, hosting events in grandiose settings such as the former royal palace in Versailles and likening his role to that of Jupiter, king of the Roman gods.
The former investment banker's ambitious agenda includes labour reforms pushed through by decree, with critics seizing on his use of executive orders as an example of an autocratic leadership style.
Macron is also planning major tax cuts for the wealthy, forcing him to fend off accusations that he is a "president of the rich".
France's youngest president sees the tax cuts as essential to spurring investment and stemming the exodus of millionaires such as celebrated actor Gerard Depardieu and ageing rocker Johnny Hallyday.
Wednesday's remark "further alienates the president by bolstering the image of heavy-handedness and indifference to the least fortunate," said Emmanuel Riviere of the Sofres polling institute.
Political scientist Jerome Sainte-Marie told AFP it "was not very good in terms of popularity, but that won't prevent him from passing reforms -- he has overwhelming power."
Macron insists he has a mandate for change after his presidential win was followed by a thumping parliamentary victory for his Republic on the Move (LREM) party.
Three demonstrations over his labour reforms failed to mobilise the huge crowds that marched against his Socialist predecessor Francois Hollande's workplace changes.
