On the eve of the arrest of hundreds and a vote of no confidence. The French government on its position on the amendment of the pension system

French police on Sunday arrested more than 500 people across the country following protests against a pension reform without a parliamentary vote, while the government defends its decision despite a crucial vote expected in the National Assembly on Monday on two motions of no confidence.

Local media reports said authorities arrested more than 500 protesters, 283 of whom were later released.

The new protests came on the eve of a crucial vote in the French National Assembly for a vote of no confidence in Elisabeth Bourne's government.

Some lawmakers, including conservative Republican Party leader Eric Ciotti, who is expected not to support a no-confidence motion, have been targeted, and announced early on Sunday that his office in his constituency had been pelted with stones at night.

Since last Thursday, thousands of people have been taking to the streets in several French cities in spontaneous demonstrations to protest the government's use of constitutional article 49.3 to pass a law amending the pension system.

Insistence on amendment and vote of confidence

For its part, the French executive sought to defend its decision to pass the pension reform bill without a vote in parliament, and French President Emmanuel Macron expressed on Sunday his hope that his pension reform project would "follow its democratic path to the end."

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said France would go ahead with the pension system, despite protests and a vote of no confidence scheduled for Monday.

In an interview published last Saturday with Parisien newspaper, Le Maire said there would be no majority in parliament to pass a no-confidence motion.

On Monday, the French government faces two motions of no confidence, the rejection of which lawmakers would automatically lead to the adoption of the amendment that raises the retirement age from 62 to 64.

After weeks of strikes and marches against raising the retirement age, police on Saturday closed Concorde Square in front of parliament to demonstrators after two consecutive nights of clashes.

"The representatives of the people will have the floor in a sovereign manner on Monday," Le Maire said. "The law will have to be enforced. "Freedom to demonstrate is complete, but no violence anywhere should be tolerated."

A spokesman for French energy firm Total Energies said 34% of operational workers at refineries and warehouses went on strike on Sunday morning, as protests continued against the government's plans to raise the retirement age.