Will the collapse of initial talks between government officials and union leaders energize the protests, push pension reform forward, or trigger fatigue after two months of mass demonstrations in France? On Thursday, the eleventh day of nationwide protests and strikes — the ninth under the general-strike framework — workers continue to oppose the retirement reform that raises the minimum retirement age to 62 or 64, with a requirement of 43 years of contributions to receive a full pension. This marks the first national mobilization since Wednesday’s inconclusive meeting between Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne and labor federation leaders.
In total, hundreds of demonstrations are planned across the country. Estimates from intelligence services suggest turnout could range from 600,000 to 800,000 participants, though these figures vary. On the last major day, March 28, unions claimed as many as two million demonstrators, while officials reported nearly 750,000 participants when including many key sectors such as transport and education. Early data this Thursday from protesters indicate a mixed pattern compared with the previous week, with fewer demonstrations in some areas but continued large-scale participation nationwide. The current wave—nearly a million people involved with widespread strikes—represents one of the largest mobilizations in the 21st century in France, according to official police tallies and independent observers.
keep up the pressure
Even if the impact appears modest in places, the persistence of protests for two and a half months, with weekly general strikes, has produced noticeable fatigue. The Constitutional Council remains a focal point; the body’s ruling is expected on April 14 regarding measures introduced by the government decree, which faced intense parliamentary debates delayed by repeated legal challenges from the executive branch.
Laurent Berger, general secretary of the CFDT, France’s largest union, offered a calmer assessment from the front lines of the Paris demonstrations, signaling that broad popular backing for the reform has eroded. The decree-friendly reform has encountered broad public opposition, with polls showing around 70% disapproval, a sentiment described as undermining faith in democratic processes and the institutions of the Fifth Republic. Sophie Binet, who took over leadership of the CGT last week, criticized the government for appearing to live in a different reality from ordinary citizens.
Macron denies ‘democratic crisis’
Prime Minister Borne has tried to dial back tensions, but President Emmanuel Macron has taken a more assertive stance toward the unions. He has argued that there is no democratic crisis and pointed to his own mandate as reflecting a different political reality. During a visit to China that began on Wednesday, Macron asserted that if citizens want to retire at 60, they would have chosen a different president. The reform, one of the most controversial measures of his second term, began on January 10 and has exacted a heavy political price well beyond initial expectations.
Macron’s popularity has dropped to levels not seen since the yellow vests movement of late 2018. The far right, led by Marine Le Pen, has surged in some polls. At the same time, the government has intensified its public discourse against the left, labeling certain critics as engaging in “intellectual terrorism,” a term used by Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin in a recent interview as part of a broader effort to frame the debate. This period has seen a sharp polarization of French political life, with entrenched positions on both sides.
Latest polls present a hypothetical scenario in which Macron is not a candidate in the next presidential election, with Le Pen imagined as the likely winner. In that scenario, Le Pen would secure about 55% of the vote, signaling the broader socio-political cleavage now shaping the country’s discourse. The ongoing demonstrations continue to reflect the intertwined crises of economics and governance in France, drawing attention to how a reform that affects daily retirement prospects can become a touchstone for national identity and legitimacy.