Macron’s pensions plan could define his remaining four years in office

Former banker who promised to reconcile the French people with the political class is accused of worsening disillusionment

When furious protesters in Dijon set fire to a stuffed dummy of Emmanuel Macron, and thousands spontaneously took to the streets in cities such as Paris, Rennes and Marseille this week to protest against the government raising the pension age without a parliament vote, the French interior minister said the chaos “brought back bad memories”.

Indeed, four years after the gilets jaunes anti-government movement, in which people in small towns and the countryside rose up, Macron was once again accused by many working-class voters of disdain for the mood on the street. Politicians from his party were yet again asking for police protection for fear of violent reprisals against them.