THE French Senate has started debating President Emmanuel Macron’s unpopular plans to slash pension rights.

Mr Macron is hoping to push his proposals through with support from conservative members of the upper house.

He has vowed to go ahead with the Bill, which aims to raise the minimum retirement age from 62 to 64 by 2030, despite massive nationwide demonstrations and strikes and opinion polls consistently showing that the overwhelming majority of French people oppose the change.

Trade unions and youth organisations have pledged to “bring France to a standstill” during the sixth strike over the issue, scheduled for next Tuesday.

The French civil aviation authority has already ordered airports to cancel nearly a third of flights because of the planned strikes.

A two-week discussion in the National Assembly last month saw tempers flare and thousands of amendments proposed by opposition parties.

Mr Macron’s governing alliance has the most seats in the lower house but lost its majority in legislative elections last year, so it needs support from the right for the legislation to pass.

However, the proposals are likely to receive a more positive reception in the Senate, which is dominated by members of the right-wing Republicans party.

Right-wing senators have argued for years that the minimum retirement age should be raised and are proposing an amendment to grant a 5 per cent pension bonus to working mothers.

Government officials said they were open to discussion on the inclusion of such a measure.

Labour Minister Olivier Dussopt argued Thursday that France’s pension system would be running at a deficit within 10 years “if we do nothing.”

The debate is scheduled to last until the end of next week.

If the Bill is approved by the Senate, it will continue making its way through France’s complex legislative process.