French president Emmanuel Macron has urged citizens to moan less, telling pensioners: “We don’t realise how lucky we are.”

The country would be better off if people emulated wartime leader Charles de Gaulle, he said after being harangued by voters worried about cuts to pensions.

The French government has forced pensioners to make higher social security contributions amid budget cutbacks, prompting protests.

On a visit to the northeastern village of Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises, de Gaulle’s home and burial place, Mr Macron spoke to pensioners who complained they had a low income.

The president said he had learnt from de Gaulle’s grandson that the famed general lived by the principle: “You may speak very freely but the one thing you have no right to do is complain.”

“I think the general had the right idea. The country would be different if everyone did the same,” Mr Macron told his audience.

“We don’t realise how immensely lucky we are. We are seeing more and more elderly people in our country in good health,” he added.

Last week the government unveiled billions of euros in tax relief for businesses and households, alongside budget cuts.

In pictures: France strikes Show all 12 1 /12 In pictures: France strikes In pictures: France strikes French riot police use tear gas against a demonstrator during a protest against the government's labour market reforms at Place de la Nation in Paris EPA In pictures: France strikes Workers on strike are evacuated by French riot policemen as they block the access to an oil depot near the Total refinery of Donges Getty In pictures: France strikes Demonstrators protest during a rally against employment and labour law reforms in Lyon Rex In pictures: France strikes Security forces clash with demonstrators during a protest called by seven labour unions and students against the labour and employment law reform, in Bordeaux Getty In pictures: France strikes French police apprehend a man during a demonstration to protest the government's proposed labour law reforms in Nantes Reuters In pictures: France strikes Riot police prepare to confront refinery workers outside an oil depot in Douchy-Les-Mines Getty In pictures: France strikes A protester holds up his fist as riot police prepare to intervene to disperse refinery worker holding a blockade of the oil depot of Douchy-Les-Mines to protest against the government's proposed labour reformsr labour reforms Getty In pictures: France strikes An employee stands next to a fire and French CGT union's flag as employees block the access of the PSA plant in Valenciennes Getty In pictures: France strikes CGT union workers and docker workers attend a demonstration in Marseille EPA In pictures: France strikes Men burn bins during a protest against the government's labour market reforms in Rennes Getty In pictures: France strikes People demonstrate in Le Havre Getty In pictures: France strikes A protestor raises his fist during a protest against the government's labour market reforms in Rennes Getty

Pensions and welfare benefits will be shaved further in next year’s budget after Mr Macron complained in June that France spent “a crazy amount of dough” on social programmes.

Last month he suffered his lowest ever approval rating after a series of high-profile departures from his government.

The president believes he must overhaul France to make its institutions more efficient, create growth and counter the rise of far-right populism.