Paris brasserie favoured by Macron set alight as pension protests continue

In Lyon, police fired teargas after some shops were looted and bank windows were smashed. In Rennes, police fired teargas and protesters threw projectiles at officers.

Every week, trade unions have led one day of national strikes and peaceful street demonstrations, although clashes between police and protesters on the edges of demonstrations have begun occurring since mid-March. But while turnout has slightly decreased in recent weeks, unions have insisted French people would keep mobilising, demanding the change be scrapped.

The constitutional council, which has the power to strike out some or even all of the legislation, will assess the pension changes based on a strict interpretation of the law. Constitutional experts say the council is unlikely to strike the legislation down fully.

Schools, trains, planes and refineries were affected by strikes on Thursday but there was less transport disruption than in recent weeks.

A poll on Wednesday found that Le Pen would beat Macron today if the presidential election of last spring were repeated. The survey, from the Elabe group for BFMTV, indicated Le Pen would score 55% and Macron 45% if they faced each other in a runoff vote now.