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Millions of people have taken to the streets in France to protest a government effort to raise the retirement age to 64, from 62, bringing the country more in line with its European neighbors.

Today, as Parliament holds a key vote on the proposal, we look into why the issue has hit such a nerve in French society.

On today’s episode

Roger Cohen, the Paris bureau chief for The New York Times.

Background reading

• After large protests, all eyes were on the French Parliament on Thursday as it prepared to vote on the measure to increase the retirement age by two years.

• Here are some of the reasons so many people in France are protesting the proposals.

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Roger Cohen contributed reporting.

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