France faces new strike turmoil as Macron remains defiant

PARIS - France faced another day of strikes and protests on Tuesday with a record number of police deployed as President Emmanuel Macron remained defiant over a pensions reform that is sparking turmoil in the country.

The day of action is the tenth such mobilisation since protests started in mid-January against the law, which includes raising the retirement age from 62 to 64.

Last Thursday saw the most violent clashes yet between protesters and security forces as tensions erupted into pitched battles on the streets of Paris and police reported 457 arrests across France and injuries to 441 police officers.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said 13,000 members of the security forces -- including 5,500 in Paris alone -- would be deployed on Tuesday. The number, a record, was justified by "a major risk to public order", he said Monday.

READ: Protester fighting for life after France water protest clashes: prosecutor

Macron on Monday met Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, other cabinet ministers and senior lawmakers for crisis talks at the Elysee Palace, the presidency said. 

"We need to continue to hold out a hand to the unions," a participant in the meeting quoted Macron as saying.

In a conciliatory gesture, Borne has scheduled talks over three weeks with members of parliament, political parties, local authorities and unions.

Borne is expected to offer unions new measures designed to ease the impact of the pensions law targeting physically demanding jobs, conditions for older workers and retraining.

READ: Unrest in France prompts postponement of King Charles III visit

But early reactions were not promising for the prime minister.

Laurent Berger, the head of the moderate CFDT union, said he would accept the offer of talks but only if the reform was first "put to one side".

On Tuesday, he also called for the appointment of a mediator between unions and the government saying this would be "a gesture in favour of cooling off, and finding a way out".

Hard-left CGT union leader Philippe Martinez said: "The aim is the withdrawal" of the pensions law.

READ: 457 arrested, 441 police injured in France unrest: minister

But government spokesman Olivier Veran said the law was no longer up for discussion.

"It's in the past now," he said.

The protest movement against the pension reform has turned into the biggest domestic crisis of Macron's second mandate.

A police source said that up to 900,000 people were expected to protest nationwide Tuesday, including 100,000 in Paris, with young people expected to be prominent.