Small-town France protests Macron's pension reform.

Small and mid-size towns in France have been leading the protests against President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform, with some places staging the biggest rallies in living memory. The deeply unpopular reform has exacerbated resentment of the government, particularly in rural areas where people feel abandoned by the state. The proposed measures are seen as unfair and will disproportionately affect low-skilled workers who start their careers early, as well as women. The recent surge in violent clashes triggered by the government's use of executive powers has stoked fears of a revival of Yellow Vest-styled unrest in the coming weeks.