French Protests Escalate Over Pension Reform, Putting Macron's Legacy at Risk

Protests erupted in France as hundreds of thousands of citizens took to the streets to oppose the government's decision to increase the retirement age to 64. The demonstrations turned violent at times, with tourist hotspots like the Eiffel Tower and Versailles Palace closing down. The national trade union General Confederation of Labor said that 3.5 million French citizens attended protests on Thursday, while officials estimated that 1.08 million people took to the streets. French President Emmanuel Macron is refusing to budge on the issue and wants the reform finalized by the end of the year.