France protests: No-confidence motions filed against Macron govt

In France, protesters have clashed with police again in central Paris over the French government's pension reforms. Police clashed with protesters after President Emmanuel Macron decided to force through his controversial pension reform without calling a vote in France's lower house of parliament. Thousands of people protested the move on the streets of Paris and other French cities. In Paris, police used tear gas and water cannon to clear protesters who demonstrated outside of parliament. Local media reported that at least 120 people were detained. President Emmanuel Macron used a constitutional power enabling the government to bypass lawmakers. The decision was made just a few minutes before the vote was scheduled.

Meanwhile, No-confidence motions have been filed against his government in response.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. "We won't give up," one demonstrator told AFP news agency. "There's still hope that the reform can be revoked." "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.