French mass protests challenge Macron over pensions plan

French protesters launched a new push to pressure President Emmanuel Macron into dropping a pension reform plan, with hundreds of thousands taking to the streets and strikes disrupting transport and schools.

Union-led protesters came out for mass demonstrations for the second time in less than two weeks, challenging Macron's plan to raise the age of retirement from 62 to 64, a flagship reform of his second mandate.

Half a million people were protesting in Paris alone, the main CGT union said, higher than the figure of 400,000 it gave for the last day of rallies on January 19.

A police source said the authorities were bracing for up to 1.2 million people to take to the streets nationwide, which would exceed the 1.1 million who came out on January 19.

But Macron has shown no sign of stepping back, insisting that the reform was "essential".

France at the moment has the lowest qualifying age for a state pension among major European economies.

Tens of thousands also took part in protests in the rest of the country.

The most controversial part of the overhaul is hiking the minimum retirement age, but it also calls for more years worked to qualify for a full pension.

Across the country, millions had to adapt their daily lives as workers in transport and education staged walkouts.

Paris metro and suburban rail services were severely restricted, as was intercity travel.

Almost two out of 10 civil servants were striking by midday, the authorities said, down from 28 percent on January 19.