The French parliament passed President Emmanuel Macron's controversial pension reform bill following a long and heated debate in the National Assembly on Thursday, 16 March. The government did not receive an outright majority, but was able to pass through the legislation by invoking France's 49.3 constitutional clause.

The bill changes the retirement age from 62 to 64, something which has been met with resistance from the public who have staged massive protests and strikes against the reform for weeks. Opposition politicians have called for a vote of no confidence in the government, which must be done by 3 p.m. Friday.

Garbage collectors, oil refinery workers, and municipal workers are amongst the many unions who have gone on strike, causing heaps of trash to collect in parts of Paris. Philippe Martinez, the leader of one of the unions leading the protests, called for "new mobilizations" following the government's forced passing of