Anger boils as France adopts pension plan without vote

French police intervene to clear demonstrators from a central Paris square where thousands gather in front of parliament to protest President Emmanuel Macron's pensions reform.

Police fired tear gas at protesters on the Place de la Concorde in Paris, where some 7,000 people demonstrated against the government's pension changes in a spontaneous and unplanned rally.

Reports said cobblestones were being thrown at the police, who charged to break up groups of protesters.

The demonstration was across the river Seine from parliament, where Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne earlier on Thursday announced her government would push through the reform using a special constitution clause. 

The government used a special procedure to push its pensions reform without a vote.

The unexpected move by the administration of President Emmanuel Macron, using the so-called article 49:3 of the constitution, revealed that his government failed to secure enough of a majority in parliament.

Article 49.3 of the French Constitution enables a government to push a bill through the National Assembly without a vote. The only alternative to prevent the bill from passing is then to overthrow the government.

What Borne did in the National Assembly, after weeks of protests and fractious debate, drew shouts from left-wing legislators brandishing placards against the reform inside the parliament and outrage outside, where unions announced a fresh round of strikes and rallies.

The surprise maneuver dealt a significant blow to Macron's leadership and his ability to win support from other parties for further reforms.

Borne's speech at the parliament was largely drowned out by boos and chants from opposition members of parliament and shouts of "resignation," in rare chaotic scenes in the French parliament.

MG