| A ruling on Macron’s pension overhaul looms |
| Hundreds of thousands of protesters marched in cities across France yesterday ahead of a crucial ruling today on President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to raise the legal age of retirement to 64, from 62. The ruling could pave the way for the measure’s final implementation, even if it does little to dispel persistent popular opposition. |
| The overhaul, which became law last month after Macron decided to push it through the lower house of Parliament without a vote, has led to 12 days of nationwide protests and strikes since January. The standoff, marked by sporadic violence between the police and protesters, continues. |
| All eyes are now on the Constitutional Council, which reviews legislation to ensure that it conforms to the French Constitution. The measures in Macron’s pension overhaul cannot be officially enacted until the nine-member council gives them the green light. |
| By the numbers: According to the French authorities, protests on Thursday attracted about 380,000 people, though labor unions said that the number was one million to 1.5 million. Both the authorities and the unions had estimated that turnout at demonstrations last week was higher. |
| Taiwan: Macron stood by his recent comments that Europe could not be a “vassal” of the U.S. on issues around Taiwan’s security. |
