It’s not just the British who are on strike. For a month now, the French have been striking and protesting against the controversial pension reform bill being pushed by Emmanuel Macron's government. According to the Ministry of the Interior, on Saturday 11 February 2023, almost one million demonstrators took to the streets in several cities for a fourth day of mobilisation.

The French government appears committed to defending the bill at all costs, including the risk of further unrest. A fifth wave of action is already planned for Thursday 16 February, and the largest unions have declared their intention to bring the country to a standstill on 7 March if the bill is not abandoned.


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