France has been rocked by protests against President Emmanuel Macron’s proposed pension reforms, with citizens accusing him of ignoring their interests. The unrest has seen protesters burn cardboard images of Macron, set barricades, and burn containers in cities including Toulouse, Bordeaux, Lyon, and Strasbourg. The protests reached their peak in Paris, with hundreds of arrests reported. The General Confederation of Labor (CGT), a left-wing union, has urged citizens to join the protests, and two motions of no confidence have been filed against the government. The pension reforms, which raise the minimum retirement age from 62 to 64 and require 43 years of contributions for a full pension by 2027, have been met with widespread opposition. Macron’s government used article 49.3 of the constitution to pass the reforms by decree, avoiding a parliamentary vote, causing public outrage. Despite the motions of no confidence, Macron’s government is unlikely to be removed due to lack of support, though the protests continue to gain momentum.
