In Marseille, Macron Confronts a Potent Mix of Franceβs Problems NYT - World By: Ben Hubbard and Sophie BoutiΓ¨re-Damahi 29 October 2026 at 09:03 Franceβs second city, five years into a presidential development plan, is grappling with the social strains that have fueled protests across the country. Β© Thibaud Moritz/Agence France-Presse β Getty ImagesProtesters and the police in Marseille on Saturday. The city stands as a poignant example of mounting social and economic strains in France.