By: Within story
Protests are mounting against President Emmanual Macron’s plans to raise the retirement age.
Changing France’s state pension system to one that is more affordable for the government was a central part of President Emmanual Macron’s re-election campaign.
However, the reform, raising the retirement age from 62 to 64, has become the central issue in French politics and deeply unpopular with the public.
Strikes and protests against the move escalated this week, some turning violent with hundreds of arrests in Paris.
Transport and other public services have been affected. Mountains of uncollected rubbish remain in the streets, providing a constant and unpleasant reminder of the dispute.
Macron used his executive powers to push through the changes, as he could not get enough support to pass them in parliament.
This has increased the opposition he faces – but also, it seems, Macron’s determination to push through the measures.
He condemned this week’s violence, but does not seem to budge on the issue.
So why is Macron so determined and the opposition so intense?
Presenter: Adrian Finighan
Guests:
Axel Persson – union representative for railroad workers to the General Confederation of Labour
Lara Marlowe – Paris correspondent for The Irish Times
Paul Taylor – editor at Politico and senior fellow at Friends of Europe think tank