Skip to content

Macron Faces Prolonged Battle Over Pensions as Unions Dig In

  • Labor organizations call another day of strikes Jan. 31
  • Thursday’s protests were biggest since Macron became president
Bloomberg business news
WATCH: Workers and young people are protesting over Macron’s plan to increase the minimum retirement age.Source: Bloomberg
Updated on

The biggest protest of Emmanuel Macron’s time in office is setting the stage for a prolonged, legacy-defining battle over pension reform for the French president as neither he nor labor unions are leaving room for compromise.

More than a million people took to the streets on Thursday, led by labor unions opposing the 45-year-old leader’s plan to eliminate deficits in the pension system by raising the minimum retirement age to 64 from 62.