After removing his expensive watch from a TV interview on pension changes, the French President Emmanuel Macron was criticised.

Strikes and violent protests have been taking place in France following the Mr Macron passed a law increasing the retirement age by 2 years to 64, without any vote in parliament.

Video of Macron taking off his watch while interviewing has gone viral, with some political opponents claiming it showed he is out-of-touch.

The clip shows the French leader using his hands to communicate himself and then putting them under the table.

The watch is gone when he puts his hands on the table.

According to reports, the representatives of the French leader claimed that he removed the watch because it was “clinking on” the table.

Clemence Guette is an MP for the left-leaning opposition La France Insoumise party. He tweeted that, while Macron claimed minimum wage earners had unprecedented buying power, “the last image” was him “removing his pretty luxury watch”.

Farida Amrani is also an MP for La France Insoumise and said that “The president has never worn his own name so well.”

Social media users claimed that the watch was worth EUR80,000 (PS70.500), but the Elysee Palace told French media otherwise.

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According to the palace, Mr Macron was wearing a Bell and Ross BR V1-92.

Bell and Ross is selling one of these watches for $2,600 (PS2,100)

In a statement, the palace stated that “He has worn it very frequently for more than one year and a quarter.”

His political critics and opponents have long accused Macron of being a supporter of the wealthy and acting as a monarchy-in-waiting.

During this time, the French unrest has forced King Charles to postpone his first state visit.

After trade unions demanded a second day of strikes and demonstrations nationwide during the Queen Consort’s visit, the British and French governments reached a joint decision.

Macron stated that the official trip would likely be rescheduled for early summer.