Charles III France visit postponed due to pension protests – Photo: AP

Charles III’s France visit scheduled for today has been postponed due to ongoing pension reform protests throughout the country.

The trip was meant to further warm ties between France and the UK in the wake of Brexit and build upon a recent successful bilateral summit between UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron. However, the state visit was deemed no longer viable due to current unrest. Last week, over 1 million people demonstrated nationwide against Macron’s decision to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.

Macron pushed the pension legislation through parliament without a vote, arguing the change was necessary to keep retirement coffers funded. The bill is expected to be implemented by the end of the year unless opponents find a way to prevent the Constitutional Council from approving the measure. It is highly unlikely that Macron will change course. He has already rejected other solutions including higher taxes on companies and the wealthy, or putting the reform on hold for six months to subside tensions.

In the long term, Macron’s actions will likely push voters to support towards the party of his former opponent, populist candidate Marine Le Pen, in the 2027 presidential elections.