Did Macron break France?

 Good morning from Paris.

I contribute to the European Correspondent's Newsletter on Western Europe.
Here is this week's:

Good morning, People are fed up. A wave of unrest has hit Western Europe, as citizens take to the streets for wildly differing causes. France is trashed and burning thanks to an unpopular pension reform, and more scandals have been uncovered in the UK while strikes continue. As Belgians protested against racism, Ireland has seen months of anti-immigration protests. Amidst crises, Belgium and the Netherlands have united in one form of escapism: the countries are Europe’s new cocaine hubs. As the cherry on top, Antwerp has become the cocaine consumption capital. Editor's note Belle de Jong, Brussels

While Paris is burning, Macron adds fuel to the fire

Since Thursday, the French capital has been rocked by protests, in response to French President Emmanuel Macron raising the retirement age by two years.

Melissa Chemam
Paris, France

The controversial decision used an obscure constitutional provision to sidestep a vote scheduled to occur just a few minutes later and pass the legislation without a vote. It caused severe backlash from both MPs and protestors.

〉Article by Newsweek: Facts and videos of the protests

〉Video by Al Jazeera: Watch the level of tension

〉Article by RFI: France's article 49.3, the constitutional tool to bypass parliament

France

Melissa Chemam
Correspondent from Paris

"Poubelles La Vie": Waste collectors are striking 

Waste collectors are among those on strike in France, which has left mounds of rubbish piling up on the streets. They say President Macron's plan to raise the retirement age is unfair.

Opponents of the reform say that it is unfair to these workers, who have work-related health problems, a shorter life expectancy and are unable to do the physically demanding lifting in their late 50s.

〉Video by Al Jazeera: Waste piles up in Paris

〉Article by RFI: 7,000 tonnes of rubbish

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Has Emmanuel Macron broken France?

The French president Emmanuel Macron promised a new, consensual kind of politics. But he is now reforming France against its will, and facing major backlash. Can his reign last?

As Macron imposes a pension reform supported by a mere 30 percent, “riots” have erupted in several French cities: with blocked motorways, transport, energy strikes, and mountains of uncollected rubbish.

〉Article by Politico: Did Macron break France?

〉Article by Le Monde: Criticism from all sides

〉Article by Reuters: Macron stands firm on pension bill as protests escalate

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The United Kingdom

Elsie Haldane
Correspondent from Perth

Former PM Boris Johnson admits he misled parliament over lockdown parties

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been under investigation for his part in the infamous 'lockdown parties' that took place at Downing Street. Tomorrow, he will face a grilling from ministers.

While Johnson has accepted that he broke lockdown rules at his official residence, he denies that it was intentional, and has published a 52-page defence of his actions.

〉Article by BBC: "I misled MPs but not intentionally"

〉Article by UK Parliament: Johnson's 52-page defence document

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London police is "institutionally racist, misogynist, and homophobic", report finds

A damning report has revealed disturbing incidences of misogyny, racism and homophobia deeply rooted within London's police force, the Metropolitan Police.

The report was commissioned in the aftermath of the rape and murder of Sarah Everard by a Met officer in 2021, an event which sparked public outrage and distrust in the police.

〉Article by The Guardian: "I'm scared of the police": stories from within the Casey report

〉Article by The Metropolitan Police: The official Baroness Casey report

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