Violent French Protests Over Macron’s Retirement Push

March 18, 2023 4:24 am

PARIS (AP) — It’s a time of protest in Paris and much of France, where opponents hope to bring down the government of President Emmanuel Macron. They’re blocking the streets over his decision to force a pension system change through parliament without a vote. Raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 is wildly unpopular. Macron’s opponents filed motions Friday that will trigger no-confidence votes next week. Meanwhile traffic is snarled, campuses are blocked and sanitation workers are keeping foul-smelling rubbish from reaching Europe’s largest incineration site. Unions want people to leave schools, factories, refineries and other workplaces until Macron withdraws the bill.