French President Emmanuel Macron’s government invoked a special provision called Article 49 Thursday to push through a controversial pensions overhaul. It is an act of defiance that escalates the leader’s standoff with protestors as trash continues to pile up in Paris after unions have held waves of strikes.

WSJ’s Noemie Bisserbe reports from Paris about what’s driving the opposition to hold protests over changes in retirement requirements and what’s at stake for the future of France’s government and pension system.

0:00 French protests have resulted in trash piled on Paris city streets
1:18 What’s the pension reform proposed by President Macron?
2:12 France’s current retirement situation
3:08 Why do workers oppose Macron's pension overhaul?

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