After last night’s “survival” of his government from the two motions of censure, the French president Emmanuel Macron will give a live interview tomorrow, Wednesday, to the TV stations TF1 and France 2 TV (14:00 Greek time), the Elysee announced.

The pension reform, which provides for the increase of the retirement limit from 62 to 64 years, was finally adopted yesterday, Monday, after the activation of article 49.3 of the Constitution, which bypasses the vote in the National Assembly and after the government survived impeachment motions against it.

However, a total of 278 MPs supported one of the two motions of censure against the government, just nine short of the 289 needed to pass it.

The French president is expected to receive today at 09:00 (local time, 10:00 Greek time) the French Prime Minister Elizabeth Bourne.

“I am determined to continue to promote the reforms that are necessary for our country,” Bourne assured last night.

Later today, Macron will have lunch with Yael Bron-Pivet and Gérard Larchet, presidents of the National Assembly and Senate respectively, before meeting with members of the president’s party in the late afternoon.

“The battle continues”

Bourne “must go” or “the president will fire her,” the head of the far-right National Alarm party said yesterday. Marine Le Penwhile many voices of the left were also calling for the dismissal of the French prime minister.

“The battle continues” shouted the leaders of the Nupes coalition.

They plan to appeal to the Constitutional Council asking it to consider holding a referendum on the matter.

In the meantime, Bourne said yesterday that she will address “directly” the Constitutional Council in order for it to consider the bill “as soon as possible”.

Opponents of the reform are also calling for the fight to continue on the street.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon, of France Insubordinate, called for “popular censure” to be “expressed en masse”.

“Nothing will bend the determination of the workers,” warned the CGT union, while the general secretary of the CFDT, Laurent Berget, called for mass participation in the next day of demonstrations, which has been announced for March 23.

Anger

Last night protesters took to the streets again in several French cities, overturning and setting fire to garbage cans, erecting barricades, throwing objects at the forces of order.

The same scenes of tension prevailed in cities such as Lyon, Nantes, Rennes or Strasbourg, where around 2,000 people demonstrated, according to the authorities.

“We beheaded Louis the 16th, Macron, we will do it again,” chanted the demonstrators in Lille.

In Paris, shortly after midnight 171 people had been arrested, according to a police source.

Images broadcast by television networks showed police firing tear gas and attacking protesters in several cities, with police on motorcycles beating protesters.

This prompted Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Assembly Clemens Voule to point out on Twitter that the police should avoid using excessive force.