The protest movement against pension reform is described in France as the biggest domestic crisis of President Emmanuel Macron's second term. The protests are about raising the retirement age from 62 to 64:
"We Swedes can wonder why there will be such an uproar about a two-year increase in the retirement age. But it's not just about age, says Per-Erik Nilsson, a researcher at FOI and a French connoisseur who has written several books about the country.
"French people are on strike"
The protests also concern a deterioration in general pension and working conditions.
"The fact that the protests have reached this magnitude is also due to the way they were pushed through, without a majority in the House of Commons.
Per-Erik Nilsson believes that the French stand out as one of the most strike-prone peoples in the EU.
"Historically, the strikes have been relatively successful, although they have become less successful over time. But by 1995, a proposal to change pensions was halted, he said.
Concessions required
Whether it succeeds this time too remains to be seen.
"There are many indications that this could be long-lasting and that concessions will be required from the government. Exactly what it will be is difficult to say, says Per-Erik Nilsson.
Several trade unions have called strikes and demonstrations throughout France on March 28.
Watch the clip where Per-Erik Nilsson talks about how the yellow vests and two other French protest movements ended.