France's labor minister solves crossword puzzles in parliament

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France's Labor Minister Olivier Dussopt in Parliament

Photo: LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP

A heated debate has been raging in France for weeks about a pension reform planned by President Emmanuel Macron.

Proponents believe that raising the retirement age is urgently needed - opponents have organized nationwide mass protests for the fifth time.

But one recently ignored the debate: France's Labor Minister Olivier Dussopt.

Dussopt got caught solving a crossword puzzle in the middle of a parliamentary debate on the controversial pension reform.

"I did something stupid," admitted the 44-year-old middle politician on BFMTV.

Because the debate has been going on for two weeks and there are constant interruptions, he picked up the puzzle during a break and then continued.

Eager researchers have identified the alleged puzzle page on Twitter using video recordings: Dussopt has therefore dedicated itself to either a Soduko or a classic crossword puzzle from the French magazine "L'Express".

Among other things, they are looking for »a little journey« with five letters.

Fundamental question of respect for Parliament

Dussopt has to defend the reform against fierce criticism in the National Assembly and outside.

Conservative MP Aurélien Pradié rebuked the minister from the lectern on Thursday "not to pull out a crossword puzzle like you just did while the national assembly is expressing itself".

This is a fundamental question of respect for Parliament.

There have been large rallies and strikes against the reform in France for weeks.

Hundreds of thousands demonstrated last night alone: ​​According to the Ministry of the Interior, around 440,000 people took part in strikes and mass protests, while according to the CGT union, 1.3 million demonstrators took part.

mrc/dpa