Europe | The street v the president

France is in a stand-off against Emmanuel Macron’s pension reform

Strikes and protests are testing the French president’s resolve

Protesters take part in a demonstration in Bordeaux, southwestern France, on March 7, 2023, as part of a nationwide day of strikes and protests called by unions over the government's proposed pensions reform. - Fuel deliveries and public transport were severely disrupted in France on March 7 as unions kicked off a fresh day of protest against a pensions reform that would push back the retirement age for millions. Unions have vowed to bring the country to a standstill with strikes over the proposed changes, which include raising the minimum retirement age to 64 from 62 and increasing the number of years people have to make contributions for a full pension. (Photo by PHILIPPE LOPEZ / AFP) (Photo by PHILIPPE LOPEZ/AFP via Getty Images)
Image: Getty Images
|PARIS

A rolling national strike, launched on March 7th and in its third day as The Economist went to press on March 9th, will “bring the economy to its knees”, declared one union leader. With nearly 1.3m protesters on the streets across France on day one, a third of classrooms shut, and sporadic illegal power cuts, the country’s trade unions are engaged in a stand-off with the government over pension reform that is approaching its finale. The deadline set for parliament to examine President Emmanuel Macron’s legislation is March 26th. The unions, which are renewing their strike every day, want him to back down and shelve the plan before that.

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This article appeared in the Europe section of the print edition under the headline “War of attrition”

Europe March 11th 2023

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