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PARIS, Oct. 15-- French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday made his first TV appearance since he took office on May 7, aiming to explain his controversial reform, which is criticized by the discontent as favoring the rich. "I'm the president of all the French," Macron told TF1 television in response to growing critics over his pro-liberal roadmap. "We're taking care of the France where things aren't going well," the 39-year-old head of state added. "I'm doing what I said I would do during the election campaign...There will always be resistances, comments ... I am not here to manage or reform, but to transform," he stressed. Macron's approval ratings have tumbled since his election five months ago, pulled down by labor reforms, budget cuts, and the decrease in housing subsidies. An ifop poll released in September showed 53 percent of respondents were dissatisfied with the president's policy. Although down from 57 percent recorded in August, it remains high. In further sign of growing social pressure, the novice liberal top official was scorched by first street protests against his proposal to scrap the wealth tax and lessen labor rules, that opponents say are not in favor of low-income workers. TWO YEARS PROMISE In a 70-minute interview, Macron cited long-running rise in jobless claims as an example of "French weakness." He said, "For our society to get better, we need people who succeed. We shouldn't be jealous of them, we should say: 'fantastic'." | 
