FRANCE IS BRACING ITSELF for yet another day of massive disruption up and down the country, as almost the entire country downs tools to protest against proposed pension reforms due for vote tomorrow evening.

Mass marches and strikes around the country will coincide with an ongoing blockade of oil refineries, which has seen many of the country’s petrol pumps run dry.

President Nicolas Sarkozy was yesterday forced to get up a government crisis centre to counter the nationwide fuel shortages, as lorry drivers added their voices to the protests by taking part in “escargot operations” (go-slow protests).

The protests, which began as a revolt against the plans of Sarkozy’s centre-right UMP party to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62, and the age at which pensioners can draw the full state pension from 65 to 67.

The demonstrations have taken on a distinctively more anti-government tone in past days, however – even high school students across the country have joined in the demonstrations, blockading their own schools and rioting with police, complaining about the lack of employment opportunities when they leave school.

Sarkozy remains committed to the reforms, he says, which are due for final approval by the country’s Senate tomorrow evening. The vote could yet be delayed, however, after opposing senators from the opposition Socialist Party submitting hundreds of amendments to the bill to try and delay the vote.

The opposition hopes that by forcing the vote to be delayed, the government may buckle under the strain of the continuing public outcry.

In the meantime, travellers are advised to expect massive disruption in airports and train stations across the country; the Irish Times reports that at least eight flights between Ireland and France have been affected, with flights cancelled by both Aer Lingus and Ryanair.

Other travellers taking trains should also expect holdups, after protestors yesterday began sitting on train lines as part of their demonstrations.