On Thursday, protests in France continued over the government increasing the retirement age from 62 to 64, using special parliamentary procedures which negated the need for an official vote to pass through the new rule.

French media reported that transport networks, oil refineries and schools were all subject to massive disruptions. Throughout the country, protestors sat on train tracks, blocked access to an airport terminal, and held violent clashes with police.

After protestors in central Paris set garbage dumpsters aflame, and hurtled projectiles at police, officers responded with tear gas. Several other cities reportedly also employed tear gas, such as Nantes and Bordeaux, and p0olice employed water cannons against protestors in Rennes.

Philippe Martinez, the leader of the CGT union, was quoted by Reuters as saying, “There is a lot of anger, an explosive situation.”

Agnes Pannier-Runacher, the Minister for Energy Transition said there would be government intervention “in a targeted manner to unblock oil storage tanks that are blocked by demonstrators.”

She continued, “If the strike is a fundamental constitutional right, blockading is not one… The police are mobilized in difficult conditions and have my full support.”

Although to the protests have been ongoing for two months, since the government unveiled the new pension rules in January, Thursday was the first time the protests were coordinated between groups. It was a response to President Macron breaking his silence to say he had no intention of backing down, and by the end of the year the new rule would come into effect.

Macron and the government have stated the new law is necessary in order for the pension system to remain funded, and that if they did not take this action, it would go bankrupt eventually.