French Labour leaders hope to bring back 1M protesters

PARIS: French labour leaders hope to bring more than 1 million demonstrators back into the streets on January 31 in the latest clash of wills with the government over its plans to push back France's retirement age.

The nationwide strikes and protests are an important test for both sides. French President Emmanuel Macron says he is determined to push through his election pledge to reform France's pension system. The Labour unions and left-wing legislators fighting for Macron's plans in parliament are counting on protesters to turn out massively to fight the bill.

A first round of strikes and protests brought out between 1 million and 2 million demonstrators earlier this month, including many tens of thousands in Paris. Labour leaders are hoping to match or even better those numbers on Tuesday, with another big demonstration planned Tuesday afternoon in Paris and close to 250 others expected elsewhere.

As lawmakers begin to lock horns in Parliament over the government's bill that would raise retirement age from 62 to 64, positions are hardening on both sides.