Protests turn violent as Macron pushes pension plan

After France’s parliament passed a divisive bill raising the retirement age from 62 to 64, more than 200 people were detained in Paris overnight on March 21 for igniting trash in the streets and continuing protests. As this was happening, strikes at numerous refineries in western and southern France largely halted oil exports into the nation. According to a source close to the centrist president, President Emmanuel Macron will attempt to “cool things down” with a televised interview amid mounting discontent in France over his plans to raise the retirement age.One day after the pension reform was passed, demonstrators could be seen at the Place de la Republique as the French Parliament rejected two votes of no-confidence in the government. March 21 in Paris, France. According to the AP, at least 234 protesters were detained.