President Emmanuel Macron's decision to raise retirement age led to strikes across the country, including by rubbish collectors. Since 2018, cumulative growth in GDP in France has been twice that in Germany and ahead of Britain, Italy and Spain. Even if you look at measures of social welfare, the poverty rate in France is well below the average of its European neighbours. And it has a much better programme of care and nursery education available for those who are under two years old.