France’s finance Minister admitted to trying to raise the country’s retirement age, a danger for President Emmanuel Macron. But, he said it was necessary in order to protect and strengthen the French social system.

Macron’s election promises for next month include a reform of France’s pensions system, and the move of retirement age to 65 instead of 62. France is currently one of the most advanced retirement ages in industrialized nations.

Before 2017, the president had made similar promises, but protests were raised against the proposals. Then the plan was halted by the outbreak of coronavirus.

Speaking to CNBC’s Charlotte Reed on Thursday evening, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said it was “risky, but it’s a necessity.”

“It’s a must if your goal is to boost the French nation’s prosperity worldwide… It’s also the best way to protect our social system. “That’s the only way to give the assurance to all French citizens that they will be able to access a fair, efficient and secure pension system,” he stated.

An alternative option to tax increases is for us to make higher taxes. However, we are not going to do it, he stated, adding that our administration prefers to lower taxes.

One alternative would be to decrease the amount of pensions. Le Maire stated that this is also an option we want to avoid.

“If you are looking to prevent these two terrible solutions and to strengthen and preserve the French social system, you have no other option than to increase the retirement age.”