French parliament debates pension reform as new strike looms

A stormy debate kicked off in France's parliament over a highly contested pension reform championed by President Emmanuel Macron, a day ahead of new strikes and mass demonstrations against the plan.

The reform is the flagship domestic policy of Macron's second and final term in office, with the president determined to implement it despite fierce opposition from the political left and unions, but also the wider public.

At the start of the parliamentary debate, Labour Minister Olivier Dussopt struggled to make himself heard above loud booing and shouting.

"Here we are, even if you don't want us to be, here we are," he said.

"Our (pensions) system is structurally in deficit... Doing nothing is not an option."

Speaker Yael Braun-Pivet urged lawmakers to keep quiet, telling them: "We're not at a protest, we're in the assembly".

Macron's ruling party lost its overall majority in elections last year, even though it remains the largest faction.

His government under Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne wants to pass the legislation with the help of allies on the political right.

The government is also trying to avoid using clause 49.3 of the constitution -- an article which allows the automatic adoption of a law without a vote.

Such a move would risk stoking further protests.

Left-wing opponents of the administration filed thousands of amendments ahead of the parliamentary debate beginning.