Why Macron's pensions reform push threatens a political time bomb
Nationwide strike action and mass demonstrations were held in France on Thursday in opposition to Emmanuel Macron’s reform of the French pensions system, which includes raising the age of retirement on full pension rights from 62 to 64. The government appears to hope that what its spokesman called the “weariness” of the population, amid galloping inflation and the hike in energy costs, will see the protests over its reform peter out. Ellen Salvi reports on how the president’s strategy has led to a weakening of public debate and a disintegration of social democracy, and why a victory for his reform would threaten to set a time bomb ticking in the ballot box.
AheadAhead of the nationwide strike action and demonstrations called for January 19th in protest at President Emmanuel Macron’s reform of the French pensions system, raising the age of retirement on full pension rights from 62 to 64, the prime minister’s office sent word out to members of the centre-right government and its allies to tone down their public statements. There was to be nothing said in the media that could be interpreted as being yet another provocation by an executive determined to push through a reform which opinion surveys report is opposed by a majority of the population.
