France's election on Sunday looked set to produce a hung parliament. Leftist alliance is in the lead but without an absolute majority. Watch this video for all details.

France election 2024: No party has a majority, so what comes next?

French Prime Emmanuel Macron is set to address the nation for the first time since the signing of the controversial pension reform into a law. Just hours after the Constitutional Court backed the pension reforms, Macron signed the legislation saying, the law is a huge setback for the protesters.

France pension reforms: Emmanuel Macron to address France amid pension chaos | World News | WION

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets in the Northern French town Douai, to protest against French President Emmanuel Macron's proposed pension reforms. The demonstrators appeared pretty determined through strikes.

France: Hundreds take to streets against President Macron's proposed pension reforms

Thousand of people in France are continuing to protest against the pension reform plans imposed by the government. The unions are hoping to match a mass turnout as more than a million people marched in opposition to the plans.

France protests rage on! Unions ready to call for mass turnout

Millions march through French cities to protest against President Emmanuel Macron's retirement reform, several trains were halted while refineries were blocked that hit power generation across the country.

France protests against pension reforms, trade unions announce another strike

France is gearing up for a pretty 'hellish' Thursday, widespread chaos is expected. Unions and protesters are all set to take to the streets against the government's very unpopular pension schemes under Emmanuel Macron.

France gears up for 'hellish' day of protests, Trade Unions call for 'massive mobilisation'

The workers of France's eight major unions have announced a National Day of Strike on January 19, days after the government unveiled its Pension overhaul plan. On Tuesday, French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne unveiled the plan of raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 by the end of the year 2030. Watch to know more.

Black Thursday for France: Nationwide strike on January 19, transport system to be severely affected

France's eight main trade unions called for a day of strikes on January 19 against pension reform announced by President Emmanuel Macron's government on Tuesday.

French unions call for strike against pension reform on Jan 19

The French government stood firm on the pension reforms as a fresh round of <a href="People march in Marseille during protests over a government pensions overhaul.">demonstrations to take place across the country</a> on Tuesday.

"This reform... is going to be defended," news agency AFP quoted a government spokeswoman Sibeth Ndiaye as saying on late Monday.

Tens of<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/frances-sanofi-to-buy-biotech-firm-synthorx-for-25-billion-267197"> thousands of protestors</a> are expected to hit the street today to protest against latest pension reforms in which the retirement age was changed to 64. Currently, the retirement age is set at 62.

Meanwhile, French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe is scheduled to hold fresh talks with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/french-cgt-union-threatens-more-protests-over-pensions-plan-268467">French trade union leader</a>s on Wednesday, but a solution to the impasse appears out of reach for now.

Since December, 5 French trade unions have been France has been holding crippling strikes against plans for a single pensions system, which would do away with 42 separate schemes that offer early retirement and other benefits mainly to public-sector workers.

Commuters in Paris are the most affected by these strikes as transport services are the have been the most affected. Millions of commuters are facing daily misery due to the strikes and with holidays coming, travel plans are also at risks.

According to a local report, just one in four high-speed TGV trains is running on Tuesday.

Over 800,000 people turned out across France for the first mass demos on December 5, though the number had fallen to 340,000 according to the interior ministry on December 10.

Police are on high alert after some protesters vandalised storefronts and set fire to vehicles during the previous marches.

Half the metro lines in Paris were closed, though traffic jams were close to average as many people worked from home or just took the day off.

(With inputs from agencies)

The French government stood firm on the pension reforms as a fresh round of demonstrations to take place across the country on Tuesday. "This reform... is going to be defended," news agency AFP quoted a government spokeswoman Sibeth Ndiaye as saying on late Monday.

The French government stood firm on the pension reforms as a fresh round of demonstrations to take place across the country on Tuesday. "This reform... is going to be defended," news agency AFP quoted a government spokeswoman Sibeth Ndiaye as saying on late Monday. Tens of thousands of protestors are expected to hit the street today to protest against latest pension reforms in which the retirement age was changed to 64. Currently, the retirement age is set at 62. Meanwhile, French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe is scheduled to hold fresh talks with French trade union leaders on Wednesday, but a solution to the impasse appears out of reach for now. Since December, 5 French trade unions have been France has been holding crippling strikes against plans for a single pensions system, which would do away with 42 separate schemes that offer early retirement and other benefits mainly to public-sector workers. Commuters in Paris are the most affected by these strikes as transport services are the have been the most affected. Millions of commuters are facing daily misery due to the strikes and with holidays coming, travel plans are also at risks. According to a local report, just one in four high-speed TGV trains is running on Tuesday. Over 800,000 people turned out across France for the first mass demos on December 5, though the number had fallen to 340,000 according to the interior ministry on December 10. Police are on high alert after some protesters vandalised storefronts and set fire to vehicles during the previous marches. Half the metro lines in Paris were closed, though traffic jams were close to average as many people worked from home or just took the day off. (With inputs from agencies)

France strikes: Government stays firm on pension reforms as mass protests continue

French President Emmanuel Macron will on Sunday meet ministers involved in his radical pension reform which has prompted a nationwide strike and brought key transport services to a standstill.

Transport in Paris remained paralysed Sunday, with only the two driverless lines of the Metro in operation while national rail operator SNCF warned just one in six high-speed trains would be running.

The strikes, which began on Thursday over the plans for a single points-based pension scheme, recall the winter of 1995, when three weeks of huge stoppages forced a social policy U-turn by the then-government.

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe insisted his government would not abandon the plan.

"If we do not make a far-reaching, serious and progressive reform today, someone else will make a really brutal one tomorrow," Philippe was quoted as saying by Le Journal du Dimanche.

But the leader of the hardline CGT union, Philippe Martinez, told the paper "We will keep up until the withdrawal" of the reform plan.

The prime minister is due to unveil full details of the reform to merge the 42 existing pension plans, which could spark more union anger.

"We can provide extremely positive answers for many people who suffer injustices in the current system: women, farmers, and career-changers in particular," he said.

Unions have vowed a second series of mass demonstrations nationwide on Tuesday and there is expected to be little easing of the transport freeze over the coming days.

In a joint statement, the three main rail unions called for the strike to be stepped up on Monday.

Biggest challenge

The strikes could prove to be the biggest domestic challenge yet for Macron, who came to power in 2017 on the back of promises to radically reform France and has sought a prominent place on the international stage as Europe's number one statesman.

Macron was widely believed to have ridden out the challenge posed by the "yellow vests" whose weekly Saturday protests against inequality in France had shaken the government over the last year.

But the yellow vests have also sought to use the momentum of the strike movement and held a fresh protest in Paris on Saturday and others in several cities across France.

Unions say Macron's proposal for a single-pension system would force millions of people in both the public and private sectors to work well beyond the official retirement age of 62.

At least 800,000 took part in rallies around the country on Thursday, according to the interior ministry -- one of the biggest demonstrations of union strength in nearly a decade.

A crucial week now lies ahead: commuters will struggle to get to work on Monday and more giant nationwide protests are planned for Tuesday.

Transilien, the operator of the Paris region rail network, warned of severe shortages Monday and recommended using other means of transport such as car-sharing.

The international Eurostar and Thalys rail services have been hit by cancellations.

Tourists in Paris also faced some disappointments: the world-famous Louvre Museum said some rooms would be closed due to the strikes, while the landmark exhibition of painter El Greco at the Grand Palais was closed.

The Paris Opera and several theatres in the capital have cancelled performances over the last few days due to the strike.

French President Emmanuel Macron will on Sunday meet ministers involved in his radical pension reform which has prompted a nationwide strike and brought key transport services to a standstill.

French President Emmanuel Macron will on Sunday meet ministers involved in his radical pension reform which has prompted a nationwide strike and brought key transport services to a standstill. Transport in Paris remained paralysed Sunday, with only the two driverless lines of the Metro in operation while national rail operator SNCF warned just one in six high-speed trains would be running. The strikes, which began on Thursday over the plans for a single points-based pension scheme, recall the winter of 1995, when three weeks of huge stoppages forced a social policy U-turn by the then-government. Prime Minister Edouard Philippe insisted his government would not abandon the plan. "If we do not make a far-reaching, serious and progressive reform today, someone else will make a really brutal one tomorrow," Philippe was quoted as saying by Le Journal du Dimanche. But the leader of the hardline CGT union, Philippe Martinez, told the paper "We will keep up until the withdrawal" of the reform plan. The prime minister is due to unveil full details of the reform to merge the 42 existing pension plans, which could spark more union anger. "We can provide extremely positive answers for many people who suffer injustices in the current system: women, farmers, and career-changers in particular," he said. Unions have vowed a second series of mass demonstrations nationwide on Tuesday and there is expected to be little easing of the transport freeze over the coming days. In a joint statement, the three main rail unions called for the strike to be stepped up on Monday. Biggest challenge The strikes could prove to be the biggest domestic challenge yet for Macron, who came to power in 2017 on the back of promises to radically reform France and has sought a prominent place on the international stage as Europe's number one statesman. Macron was widely believed to have ridden out the challenge posed by the "yellow vests" whose weekly Saturday protests against inequality in France had shaken the government over the last year. But the yellow vests have also sought to use the momentum of the strike movement and held a fresh protest in Paris on Saturday and others in several cities across France. Unions say Macron's proposal for a single-pension system would force millions of people in both the public and private sectors to work well beyond the official retirement age of 62. At least 800,000 took part in rallies around the country on Thursday, according to the interior ministry -- one of the biggest demonstrations of union strength in nearly a decade. A crucial week now lies ahead: commuters will struggle to get to work on Monday and more giant nationwide protests are planned for Tuesday. Transilien, the operator of the Paris region rail network, warned of severe shortages Monday and recommended using other means of transport such as car-sharing. The international Eurostar and Thalys rail services have been hit by cancellations. Tourists in Paris also faced some disappointments: the world-famous Louvre Museum said some rooms would be closed due to the strikes, while the landmark exhibition of painter El Greco at the Grand Palais was closed. The Paris Opera and several theatres in the capital have cancelled performances over the last few days due to the strike.

France's Emmanuel Macron to hold meeting on pensions as strike bites

Massive protests are taking place across 30 cities in France. French police deployed tear gas and used pepper spray on protesters and black blocs as a pensions reform protest in Paris turned rowdy. Watch this video to know more.

France: Massive protests across 30 cities

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