Thousands of protesters hit the streets of Paris with renewed anger this week, as an unpopular raise to France’s retirement age became law.

President Emmanuel Macron’s government announced plans to shift the age from 62 to 64 in January. Since then, demonstrations across France have included strikes from rail workers and garbage collectors, leading to piles of trash growing in Paris.

On Monday, his government survived a resulting no-confidence motion by only nine votes.

Today, New York Times correspondent Catherine Porter joins us to explain France’s unique identity of work-life balance, and the globally relevant reasons Macron risked his future to delay the country’s retirement.

For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts