Clashes in Paris as hundreds of thousands across France march against plan to raise retirement age

French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to press ahead with unpopular pension reforms that will raise the country's retirement age to 64, despite massive protests that involved clashes with police in Paris.

Hundreds of thousands took part in rallies across the country, according to combined police estimates. Police fired tear gas on the fringes of the Paris protest when black-clad, masked individuals in hoodies hurled projectiles at their lines. About 20 people were arrested, BFM TV said, quoting police.

"It's salaries and pensions that must be increased, not the retirement age," read one large banner carried by workers that opened the protest march in Tours, in western France.

"I'll have to prepare my walking frame if the reform goes through," said Isabelle, 53, a social worker, saying her job was too tough to add two more years. In Nice, in southern France, a large banner read: "No to the reform."

However, at a French-Spanish summit in Barcelona, Mr Macron said that "we must do that reform".

"We will do it with respect, in a spirit of dialogue but also determination and responsibility," he added.

Pushing back the retirement age by two years and extending the pay-in period would bring an additional €17.7bn (£15.5bn) in annual pension contributions, allowing the system to break even by 2027, according to Labour Ministry estimates.

Unions argue there are other ways to ensure the viability of the pension system such as taxing the super-rich or increasing employers' contributions or those of well-off pensioners.

"This problem can be solved in a different way, through taxation. Workers should not have to pay for the public sector deficit," said Laurent Berger, the leader of CFDT, France's biggest labour union.

At the same Paris protest rally, Michel Liger, a 65-year-old retired firefighter, said he was there because he worried about his two daughters. "My children shouldn't have to work longer than me," he said, adding that the government should instead tackle what he called "real problems" including the healthcare sector.

The challenge for the unions is to transform opposition to the reform - and anger over a cost-of-living crisis - into a mass social protest which could eventually force the government to change tack.Union leaders said Thursday was just the beginning.

The pension reform still needs to go through parliament, where Mr Macron has lost his absolute majority but is hoping to get it passed with the support of conservatives.

Train drivers, teachers and refinery workers were among those who walked off their jobs, as well as nearly 45 per cent of staff at utility giant EDF, the company said. France Inter radio played music instead of its usual programming and bus drivers and civil servants also went on strike.

Only between one-in-three and one-in-five high-speed TGV lines were operating, with barely any local or regional trains running, the SNCF rail operator said. Eurostar has cancelled 21 trains on Thursday and Friday, while Ferry services between Dover and Calais were suspended on Thursday.

France’s rail network and Paris’ Metro system will see many services suspended on Thursday, as part of the nationwide industrial action.

In Paris, some metro stations were closed and traffic was seriously disrupted, with few trains running. In the busy Gare du Nord station, people rushed to catch the few trains still operating while employees in yellow vests were assisting frazzled commuters. Restaurant worker Beverly Gahinet, who missed work because her train was cancelled, said she agreed with the strike even if she was not taking part.

But not all were so understanding. "I don't understand, it's always the same (people) who are on strike ... and we have to endure it," said real estate worker Virginie Pinto, as she struggled to find a metro to go to work.

Some seven out of 10 primary school teachers stopped work, and nearly as many in high schools, their unions said, though the Education Ministry gave much lower figures. In Paris, students blockaded at least one high school in support of the strike action.

EDF and grid operator RTE data showed electricity production was down by roughly 12 per cent of total power supply, prompting France to raise imports.

Shipments were blocked at TotalEnergies' refineries in France, union and company officials said, but the company said one strike day would not disrupt refinery operations.

Reuters