PARIS - Thousands took to the streets in France on Tuesday as the hardline CGT union called protests against President Emmanuel Macron's moves to make the country's labour laws more flexible. The reforms to the labour code are a flagship policy for Macron, who says businesses need more flexibility in order to create jobs. Despite the limited turnout, Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of the hard-left La France Insoumise (France Unbowed) party said he was confident Macron could be "made to pull back." "Mr Macron knows that this is a trial of strength and he looked for it. A day ahead of the protests, the president doubled down on controversial comments on Friday describing opponents of the reform as "idlers."

Source: The China Post September 12, 2017 12:22 UTC