Demonstrations continued in Paris and other cities against President Emmanuel Macron's passage of a law raising the retirement age to 64, and trade unions called for escalating protests and strikes, while the National Assembly (parliament) considers two motions of no confidence in the government.

Police banned protests on Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris after unrest over an amendment to the pension law.

"Due to the high risk of disturbing public order and security, any gathering is prohibited in the Place de la Concorde public and its surroundings, as well as in the area of the Champs-Elysees," police said, stressing that they would systematically expel people who would try to gather there and could be fined, as these areas are located near the headquarters of the National Assembly and the Elysee Presidential Palace.

Last night, the Place de la Concorde in Paris saw clashes between protesters and security forces, with Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announcing 310 arrests.

The atmosphere was tense when police intervened as night fell, with protesters setting fire and hundreds of them throwing bottles and firecrackers at police who responded with tear gas, trying to clear the scene as it rained.


No confidence

On Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron chose to pass the controversial pension reform bill by adopting Article 49/3 of the constitution, which allows a text to be adopted without a vote in the National Assembly, exacerbating social anger.

There is almost unanimity that resorting to Article 49/3 of the constitution is a setback for Macron, who has mortgaged his political capital for this reform, making it the most prominent project of his second presidential term.

France's National Assembly will consider two no-confidence motions on Monday, parliamentary sources told AFP.

One of the two proposals was submitted on Friday by deputies of the independent "Lyot" group, in which several parties participate, and deputies from the left-wing "Nobs" coalition participated in signing this proposal.

MPs from Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally party also submitted another no-confidence motion, saying they would vote "in favour of all motions of no confidence submitted".

To bring down the government, an absolute majority in the National Assembly must vote on a no-confidence motion, i.e. 287 votes, requiring about 30 right-wing Republicans MPs (out of 61) to vote on the motion.

The garbage workers' strike caused a large amount of garbage to accumulate on the streets of the capital Paris (Anatolia)

Escalation of strikes

Meanwhile, the General Confederation of Labour (CGTT) called for local rallies this weekend and a ninth day of strikes and demonstrations next Thursday, to protest the reform, the main provision of which raises the retirement age from 62 to 64.

At least two refineries, Petronios in La Vera (southeast) and Total Energy in Gonfreuville-Lorchet (northwest), could close no later than Monday, according to the General Confederation of Labour, and strikers are currently shutting down fuel shipments.

A spokesman for Total Energy said about 37 percent of operating staff at the company's refineries and warehouses in France went on strike on Saturday, while strikes continued alternately in the railway sector.

French Industry Minister Roland Lescor said on Saturday that the government could take action if the facilities are closed to avoid fuel shortages.

He said such measures were "in progress" with garbage collectors whose strike caused a large amount of garbage to accumulate on the streets of the capital, estimated at 10,<> tons, according to the Paris municipality.


Gatherings are expected throughout the weekend in Paris' Place d'Italia, France's second city, Marseille, Brest (west), Toulon and Montpellier in the southeast.

The French government has opted to raise the retirement age in response to financial deterioration in pension funds and an aging population, with opponents of the reform saying the text is "unfair", especially for women and workers in difficult jobs.

France is one of the European countries with the minimum retirement age, although the pension systems of various countries are not fully comparable.