(ANSAmed) - PARIS, DECEMBER 17 - Hundreds of thousands of people protested on Tuesday against a pension reform promoted by President Emmanuel Macron. According to a preliminary estimate published by French media, over 200,000 demonstrators including train drivers, teachers, lawyers and magistrates, medical personnel and employees in the private and public sectors took part in a total of 40 marches staged on Tuesday morning across France.
    In Paris, according to tradition, the demonstration started at the beginning of the afternoon with slogans against Macron's reform and songs of protest. Demonstrators are scheduled to cross the capital, from Place de la République to Place de la Nation, through the Bastille. For the leader of the CGT union, Philippe Martinez, staging yet another day of protests is ''a great success''. ''Despite the government's attempts to sow division, the population remains mobilized''.
    Premier Edouard Philippe proposed to representatives of unions and associations to meet again Wednesday in Paris.
    Meanwhile, on the 13th day of paralysis for public transport, a reported 90,000 homes remained without power due to an act of sabotage committed by members of the CGT union on the electrical line of Lyon and in the region of Gironde (RTE). The management of the energy network denounced the ''hostile acts'' connected to the ''social movement'' against the pension reform.
    Right afterwards, the actions were claimed by the CGT of RTE.
    At one point during the protest, 50,000 homes were without power. (ANSAmed)