France pension protests: Crowd clashes with police over government reform by decree - BBC

It is the second night of unrest since President Emmanuel Macron decided to push through the controversial reforms to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 without a vote.

The first was signed by independents and members of the left-wing Nupes coalition in parliament, while a second came from the far-right National Rally party.

Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally MPs in parliament, called the decision to push through the pension changes "a total failure for the government".

Police made dozens of arrests during the unrest at Place de la Concorde, not far from the parliament building.

But many people, including union members, disagree and France has now seen more than two months of heated political debate and strikes over the issue.

"Changing the government or prime minister will not put out this fire, only withdrawing the reform," said the head of the moderate CFDT union, Laurent Berger.