May Day marches across France send pensions message to Macron

Eight police officers injured and 45 arrests made in Paris after protests on fringes turn violent

Tens of thousands of people have taken part in French street demonstrations as May Day marches sent a message" to Emmanuel Macron that he must consult citizens more during his second term, and reverse plans to raise the retirement age or face protests.

There will be a fight over pensions, that's clear - battle has been declared," said the leftwing CGT trade union in Toulouse. Trade unionists, environmentalists and parties on the left, as well as yellow-vest anti-government protesters, marched in cities across the country - on what is also known as fete du Travail (Labour Day) in France - demanding a rise in pensions and salaries and an end to Macron's plan to gradually raise the pension age to 65.