France’s President Emmanuel Macron has urged the French people to be more like their leader from World War II and the post-war period, Charles de Gaulle.

Macron, whose rating has plummeted for pushing unpopular social spending and taxation reforms, also said the French should appreciate what they have and moan less.

Macron’s latest controversial comments were made on Thursday as he visited the northeastern village of Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises known as the home and burial place of Charles de Gaulle, World War II resistance leader and President of France in 1959 – 1969.

In Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises, Macron spoke to a pensioner who complained he only had a small pension.

“The grandson of the general (Charles de Gaulle) told me a little while ago” that his grandfather’s rule was: “You can speak freely, the only thing we should not do is to complain,“ the French President said, as cited by AFP and France24.

“I think that the general had the right idea. The country would be different if everyone did the same,” he stated.

“We don’t realize how lucky we are. We are seeing more and more elderly people in our country in good health,” Macron insisted.

The new controversial comments of the French President came after last week France’s government unveiled billions of euros in tax relief for businesses and households as well as more budget cuts.

Back in June, Macron himself complained that France spent “a crazy amount of dough” on social programs. His understanding of that is enshrined in the country’s 2019 budget which will reduce pensions and welfare benefits.

In August, Macron also came under attack from the opposition after he described the French as “Gauls who are resistant to change” during a trip to Denmark.

At the time of his previous controversial comments, he was talking to French expatriates in the Scandinavian country.

He did not hide his admiration of Denmark’s economic model which mixes a strong social security system with rules allowing companies to easily fire workers.

Macron has recently suffered heavy political blows as he saw three of his government ministers resign over the past few weeks.

(Banner image: Emmanuel Macron on Twitter)