Strikes against pension reforms shut schools and caused transport chaos around France on Tuesday, but the number of people taking to the streets appeared to have dropped off from last week in a positive sign for President Emmanuel Macron. Unions had called for mass protests on Tuesday, the day before Macron’s government is to unveil details of its plan to simplify a complicated pension system that offers some of the worlds most generous benefits. “Given the depth of discontent, there is a need to get more people on the streets,” Philippe Martinez, head of the hard-left CGT, told reporters before leading a protest march in Paris.
