French pension reform showdown 'really an acid test on both sides, both for trade unions & for govt'

French unions on Thursday staged a new day of disruption against President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform after he defiantly vowed to implement the change, with refineries at a standstill and mass transport cancellations. All the while, Macron said he was prepared to accept unpopularity because the bill was "in the general interest of the country." For more on the French pension reform showdown, FRANCE 24 is joined by Paul Smith, Associate Professor in French History and Politics at the University of Nottingham.