French pension reform sparks nationwide protests and threatens Macron's presidency.
French President Emmanuel Macron faces a crucial vote on his deeply unpopular pension reform bill, which has sparked weeks of nationwide protests. The bill aims to increase the legal age of retirement to 64 from 62 and extend contributions for a full pension to balance the accounts of France’s state pensions system. If Macron loses the parliamentary vote, it would be a stunning defeat and could have seismic and long-term repercussions for his second term. If he bypasses parliament and invokes article 49.3 of the French constitution, it could be seen as authoritarian and stoke further unrest. Even if he wins the vote, protests may continue across the country.