What comes next in France’s fight over pension reform?

A statue is adorned with a poster demanding retirement at age 60 during protest against proposed pension reforms, outside France's National Assembly in Paris on 7 February 2023. © AP - Christophe Ena

French unions have vowed to bring France to a standstill in a new round of strikes on 7 March, as they continue to battle President Emmanuel Macron’s contested reforms to the pension system. It is the sixth day of strikes and protests since the year began, and promises to be one of the biggest yet.

Six weeks, five strikes and countless hours of debate after the proposals were unveiled, both sides are digging in.