Emmanuel Macron releases the luxury watch during the pension discussion

Emmanuel Macron subtly took a luxury watch from his wrist during an important television interview about his unpopular pension reform, which critics say, is further evidence that he is "president of the rich".

During the half -hour interview at the main time about his decision to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64, Mr. Macron can be seen how he starts the show with a large watch with a blue dial and black bracelet on the left arm.

social media commentators pointed out that he secretly removed the clock eleven minutes after storage and put his left arm under the table while he continued to answer a question. When he brought it back, the clock could not be seen anywhere.

Many online commentators claimed that the watch was produced by FP Journe and cost € 80,000 (£ 70,000).

In fact, the watch cost far less than some claims. According to France Info, it is a BRV 1-92 model of the French company Bell & Ross worth 2,400 euros (£ 2,110) and in the colors of the president's safety unit, Gspr. He has been wearing the same watch for a year and a half. It was already spotted at the World Cup in Qatar.

"2,400 euros are expensive, but 40 times lower than the prices circulating on the Internet," wrote France Info.

The Elysée insisted that Mr. Macron had removed it because it "clinked to the table". In fact, shortly after it was heard, he removed how it touched the desk while he mentioned "blockages".

Regardless of this, the left opposition immediately plunged the pictures as the latest proof that the president had no idea what it was like to live in France at the subsistence level. They argue that the reform will mainly hit low -wage earners.

"Just when he talks about 'minimum wage worker' who have never had such a high purchasing power, he discreetly puts off his pretty luxury clock," wrote Clémence Guetté, MP of the France Unwows party of Jean-Luc Mélenchon.

The French President is often referred to as the "Lord of the watches", which means that he decides to speak and act at a time of his choice.

For his critics, who are decisive against an increase in retirement age, he is a contactless ex-banker who cannot understand the concerns of the average modest French worker.

critics also claimed that Mr. Macron bears a Hermes suit worth 5,000 euros (£ 4,000). Here, too, facts in French media said that it was a far less costly model of the Paris tailor Jonas & Cie worth around € 450 (£ 395).