Macron delays pension reform, unlikely before 2022 election

French President Emmanuel Macron looks on during a news conference with Benin's President Patrice Talon after the signing of an agreement about the return of looted cultural artefacts to the African country, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, November 9, 2021. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier

PARIS (Reuters) - President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that now was not the time to push ahead with pension reform, as a fifth wave of COVID infections took hold in Europe, leaving it highly unlikely he would see through a reform wanted to help create a more flexible labour market before next spring's election.

Reforming France's costly and complicated pension system was a key plank of Macron's 2017 election platform but his initial proposals infuriated the unions and provoked weeks of protests and transport strikes just before the pandemic hit. Macron put it on hold as he ordered France into lockdown early 2020.