Europe | A win that feels like a loss

Emmanuel Macron’s government survives, but more trouble lies ahead

Protests against his pension reform may spread

March 10, 2023, Paris, Ile-de-France (region, France: Portrait of the President of the Republic, emmanule Macron during the 36th Franco-British Summit at the Elysee Palace, 10 March 2023 (Credit Image: © Julien Mattia/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA PressZuma / eyevineFor further information please contact eyevinetel: +44 (0) 20 8709 8709e-mail: info@eyevine.comwww.eyevine.com — Image: Eyevine

Mar 20th 2023|Paris

BY A WAFER-THIN margin of just nine votes, the French government survived a no-confidence vote on March 20th, opening the way for its controversial pension reform to be written into law. The result in the National Assembly was far narrower than many had expected, and reflects a level of political discontent that is unlikely to dissipate. The immediate political crisis for President Emmanuel Macron may be over, but popular unrest could yet spread.

This article appeared in the Europe section of the print edition under the headline “Breathing space”