Emmanuel Macron removes luxury watch during television interview about raising pension age in France

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Emmanuel Macron has come under fire for appearing to remove his luxury watch during a television interview about his pension reforms which have sparked furious protests across France. The palace denounced claims that the watch was worth €80,000 as “a perfect example of fake news”, with sources close to Mr Macron telling Liberation that the president was wearing the same Bell & Ross BR V1-92 watch – personalised with the presidency’s coat of arms – which he has worn regularly for more than 18 months, including on trips to the United States and Qatar. His former presidential rival Jean-Luc Melenchon accused Mr Macron lying about the reforms and showing “typical contempt for the workers and the demonstrations”, a sentiment echoed by their far-right rival Marine Le Pen, who claimed Mr Macron had merely “reinforced the feeling of contempt” felt by French voters. Speaking outside France’s National Assembly, the Socialist Party’s secretary Olivier Faure insisted Mr Macron was “in absolute denial” and had “put even more explosives on an inferno that is already ablaze”.