French unions are holding today the first mass demonstrations since French President Emmanuel Macron

Emmanuel Macron was born on December 21, 1977 in the city of Amiens.

He is the youngest president to ignite public anger by pushing the pension reform without a vote in parliament, the Associated Press and BTA reported.

The strikes are disrupting travel, and blockades of ports, refineries and landfills are expected.

Violence has escalated in recent months as protests against pension reform and Macron's rule have dispersed.

The French president has so far stubbornly resisted the growing discontent on the country's streets, saying yesterday that the reform to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 should be introduced by the end of the year.

Critics attacked Macron for the comments, describing him as "smug", unaware of what was going on and abusive.

Macron's comments yesterday were the first since the government forced through pension reform last week because of a lack of support.

The cabinet subsequently survived two no-confidence votes in France's National Assembly (the lower house of parliament) on Monday.

Macron to the French: You think I like the pension reform?

No!

The bill must be examined by the French Constitutional Council before becoming law.

In his second and final term, Macron, 45, has consistently said the pension reform needs to be changed in order to secure its funding. Opponents of the reform have proposed other solutions, including higher taxes on the wealthy and companies that Macron says will affect the economy.

French unions have announced that today's strikes and protests will bring together huge crowds of people to protest Macron's "neglect" and "lies", Reuters reported.

The head of France's largest trade union CFDT, Laurent Berget, told BFM television that the government should withdraw the pension reform.

The Dunkirk LNG terminal was locked down early this morning after workers voted to renew a strike over pension reform, a union source said.

It will be blocked until tomorrow morning, with a general meeting to be held at noon to decide whether the strike will resume again, according to the source.

The latest wave of protests is the most serious challenge to Macron's rule since the Yellow Vest uprising four years ago.

According to polls, the majority of French oppose the pension reform, as well as the decision to adopt it without a vote.

Labor Minister Olivier Dussault said that the government does not deny the tension that has arisen, but wants to continue with the reform.

Emmanuel Macron

protest

pension reform