French President Emmanuel Macron Under Pressure as Retirement Age Battle Triggers Nationwide Protests and Calls for Democracy"

In France, President Emmanuel Macron is facing mounting pressure to step down from power as the country grapples with a bitter battle over his plans to raise the retirement age. Despite months of protests and strikes, Macron has refused to back down, prompting opponents to demand his resignation and the restoration of democracy in France. The protests have grown in size, with the number of demonstrators increasing again after a slight dip in recent weeks. The latest rallies marked the ninth day of nationwide strikes and protests and were the first since Macron ordered his prime minister to use special executive powers to bypass parliament. The move has turned an already festering dispute into a political and institutional crisis. In Paris, several hundred thousand protesters took to the streets, setting off from the symbolic protest hub of Bastille. Many held posters with a montage of Macron dressed in full regalia in the manner of "Sun King" Louis XIV, accompanied by the slogan "Méprisant de la République" (contemptuous of the Republic). The march included many first-time protesters, such as 32-year-old student Lou, who said she turned out "not so much for the pension reform but because our democracy is at stake." The government's use of Article 49.3 of the constitution to force through Macron's pension reform has sparked clashes and fires across the country. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said more than 120 police officers were injured in clashes across France, with unrest sweeping several Breton cities and protesters setting fire to the porch of the city hall in Bordeaux. The proposed pension overhaul plan is highly controversial, with unions and many citizens arguing that it is unfair, particularly for low-skilled workers and women with discontinuous careers. The plan would raise the country's minimum retirement age from 62 to 64 and stiffen requirements for a full pension, which the government says is necessary to balance the books amid shifting demographics. However, polls consistently show that more than two-thirds of the country opposes the pension overhaul, with many expressing support for the strikes that have disrupted schools, public transport, and rubbish collection, burying the streets of Paris under trash. Macron's own approval rating has taken a hit, dropping to just 28%, according to an Ifop poll conducted last week. The poll was conducted before the president further enraged his critics by ordering his prime minister to trigger Article 49.3. While the government narrowly survived a no-confidence vote in the National Assembly on Monday, surveys suggest the French were hoping for a different outcome altogether, with two in three voters backing the no-confidence motion, according to an Elabe poll. Many protesters at the Paris rally said they voted for Macron less than 12 months ago but stressed that they did so to keep the far-right out of power, not in support of his promised pension overhaul. The perceived inequity of the pension reform plan has touched a raw nerve in a country that has the word "égalité" (equality) enshrined in its motto. As the protests continue to grow, it remains to be seen whether Macron will back down or face increasing calls for his resignation. The French people are demanding that their democracy be respected and that their voices be heard, and it is up to Macron to listen to their concerns and take action to address them.