France

French demonstrators continue to protest against President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reform, including increasing the retirement age and working longer for a full pension. Talks between the government and unions have ended in deadlock, and protesters are hoping for a mass turnout on the 11th day of action since January. The Constitutional Council is set to deliver its verdict on the validity of the reform on 14 April. The government argues that the changes are necessary to prevent the pensions system from plunging into deficit, but critics say it is unfair for people in tough jobs and women who interrupt their careers to raise children.

France is experiencing fresh strikes and protests, with a record number of police deployed, as President Emmanuel Macron remains defiant over a pensions reform that is causing turmoil in the country. The law includes raising the retirement age from 62 to 64, and unions have vowed no let-up in mass protests to get the government to back down. Nearly two weeks after Macron rammed the new pensions law through parliament, the protest movement against the pension reform has turned into the biggest domestic crisis of Macron’s second mandate.