Hundreds of students marched in Paris on Thursday to protest against the pension reform bill backed by President Emmanuel Macron's government. The activists also criticised police brutality against anti-government protesters in the last days.

Rally participants gathered in front of the Pantheon, near one of the Sorbonne University buildings, barricaded by rubbish containers. The march was called by the National Coordinating Organization of Students.

"Us young people especially are in the streets because we know today it is about retirement, but tomorrow it will be social security, it will be the right to study, it will be admission fees, it will be all sorts of reforms", said Victor Mendez, President of Nanterre University's student association.

Demonstrations have intensified since the Macron's government decided to bypass a vote in the National Assembly and force through the plan to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 by 2030, as well as to extend the required employment period for a worker to receive a full pension to 43 years.

The next nationwide protest against the retirement law will take place on 6 April, according to the unions. Earlier next week, union leaders will discuss the reform with Prime Minister Elizabeth Bourne, before the Constitutional Council decides on the reform on 14 April.