France’s Battle Over Retirement

<p><i>This episode contains strong language</i></p><p>Millions of people have taken to the streets in France to protest a government effort to raise the retirement age to 64, from 62, bringing the country more in line with its European neighbors.</p><p>Today, as Parliament holds a key vote on the proposal, we look into why the issue has hit such a nerve in French society.</p><p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/roger-cohen?smid=pc-thedaily">Roger Cohen</a>, the Paris bureau chief for The New York Times.</p><p>Background reading: </p><ul><li>After large protests, all eyes were on the French Parliament on Thursday as it prepared to<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/16/world/europe/france-pension-vote.html"> vote on the measure</a> to increase the retirement age by two years.</li><li>Here are some of the reasons so many people in France<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/article/france-pension-strikes-macron-explainer.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article"> are protesting the proposals</a>.</li></ul><p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily">nytimes.com/thedaily</a>. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.</p>