Tens of thousands of retirees have participated in protests across France against French President Emmanuel Macron's fiscal policies.

Tens of thousands of pensioners across France on Thursday have taken to the streets to protest against the French President Emmanuel Macron's fiscal reforms and to call for a reevaluation of their pensions.

In Marseilles, several hundred pensioners held banners saying: “Lower pensions, rising tensions” and “no pensions below minimum wage”.

In Montpellier, there were 350 protesters, with one carrying the sign: “Macron, your pitiless world glorifies the law of the strongest.”

Nine unions called on retired workers to demonstrate Thursday against the centrist government’s plans to freeze pensions and increase taxes.

The tax hike has been in effect since January and has impacted some eight million retirees.

French President Emmanuel Macron has claimed his fiscal policies are aimed at reducing France’s deficit and lowering workers’ income taxes, rather than increasing pensions.