France: Protesters and police clash as parliament begins debating pension reform bill

W/S Riot police attempt to contain protesters, clashes start to break out, Paris
W/S Clashes between police and protesters as protester is arrested
W/S Clashes between police and protesters
M/S Clashes between police and protesters
M/S Clashes between police and protesters
M/S Protesters with flare and banners
M/S Protester with flare and writing on road
C/U Protester tracing writing with flare
M/S Protesters with banners and flags
M/S Protesters and statue holding yellow vest
SOT, Marie, Rouen city resident (French): "We hope that they end up hearing the voice of the people, because that is why they are there. A priori, without the French, France is nothing. 60 percent of the French are against this reform and against a certain number of measures which have been taken before. We are under attack from all sides on social justice, in a country that prides itself on its freedom, its fraternity. But fraternity, we don't see it much anymore so we want to fight to keep it, to leave a beautiful France for our children. Our grandparents, our parents fought for the France we have today, we must keep it."
W/S Opera Garnier exterior
M/S Protesters in front of Opera Garnier
W/S Protesters in front of Opera Garnier, banner reading (French): "Social regression it's not to be negotiated, it's to be fought"
M/S Protesters with banners reading (French): "Macron I hate you with all my heart"
M/S Protesters with banners
M/S Protesters with banner
W/S Protesters with banners
M/S Protesters with banners
M/S Protesters with banners
M/S Protesters chanting
M/S Protesters with banners and French flag
W/S Protesters with banners
W/S Protesters at Louvre
W/S Protesters with French flag next to riot police
M/S Protesters with French flag and banner at Louvre
M/S Riot police at Louvre
W/S Protesters with signs
W/S Protesters with signs and banners
W/S Protesters with signs and banners
M/S Unionist with flare
SOT, Eric Coquerel, France Insoumise [Unbowed France] Party official (French): "The objective is clear, we are going to bring them down. We are going to debate this in the National Assembly week after week, so that you, the social movement, can get a second wind, and by the number, by the strike, we are making sure that we withdraw this bill and let it return to where it should never have left, in the dustbin of history. This is what I wish you."
M/S Protesters with signs
W/S Protesters with Extinction Rebellion flags
M/S Riot police
SCRIPT
Protesters took to the streets of Paris on Monday and clashed with riot police as the pension reform bill reached the French National Assembly for debate.
Tensions between the demonstrators and riot police were visible, as the police tried to keep protesters at bay with batons, before arresting a few. Yellow Vests and unionist with flares could also be seen joining in with the rally.
"Sixty per cent of the French are against this reform and against a certain number of measures which have been taken before. We are under attack from all sides on social justice, in a country that prides itself on its freedom, its fraternity," said a protester.
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced a two-year-extension of the working period necessary to earn a full pension in December, triggering the anger of workers and trade unions. The reforms attempt to overhaul France's pension system into a universal system that will see pay-outs calculated from whole careers rather than the current last five years of activity. The pension age will also be increased from 62 to 64. Strikes and protests have been ongoing for several months in one of the longest-running strikes in French history.