Can Emmanuel Macron survive widening protests and strikes?

If Marine Le Pen can turn the current anger into votes, it could have implications for Europe says Sean O’Grady

A protester wearing a Macron mask at a demonstration in Nice on Thursday (Reuter)

Since the departure of Angela Merkel in September 2021, and Britain’s abdication from any kind of stewardship, Emmanuel Macron is Europe’s pre-eminent leader. However, his relatively modest reforms to retirement rules have resulted in one of the most dangerous challenges to his authority. And there’s no sign of the protests and strikes calming down.

What are they protesting about?

The proximate cause is the pension reform bill, which includes a provision to raise the legal age of retirement from 62 to 65. British senior citizens, threatened by Jeremy Hunt with perhaps having to work until they can claim a state pension, might look askance at French objections – but it is a deeply unpopular policy.