On April 14, 2023, the Elders of the Constitutional Council delivered their verdict on the pension reform. The latter validated most of the text, including the postponement of the retirement age to 64 years. Certain points such as the senior CDI have been censored. This decision angered the French and the unions. Several improvised mobilizations were organized following the announcement of this validation.

This indignation intensified after the promulgation of the law by Emmanuel Macron a few hours after the response of the Council and its publication in the official journal on the night of April 14 to 15, 2023. The strategy adopted by the president was strongly criticized by the unions, but also the elected officials opposing the reform. Thus, Eric Coquerel announced on Sunday April 16, the preparation of a new motion of censure in the National Assembly.

The four SNCF unions announced that they were organizing strike days. Indeed, the CGT has called for two new strike days for Thursday April 20 and Thursday April 28. The first of them is considered a “day of expression of railway anger”. But these will not be the only days of mobilization.

At the time of the verdict of the Constitutional Council, improvised demonstrations took place. Asked at the microphone of BFMTV during this meeting, Sophie Binet, general secretary of the CGT, announced that the intersyndicale “give[ed] an appointment to all French men and women on May 1”. She then spoke of an “unprecedented exceptional mobilization for a popular tidal wave”.

This anger of the unions seems to illustrate that of the French. Indeed, according to the survey carried out by RTL with the BVA institute, the popularity of the president would be at its lowest. It arrives at the same percentage as at the time of the Yellow Vests crisis in 2018. Indeed, it only obtains 26% of good opinions in 2023. Conversely, 63% of French people wish to continue the mobilizations, whether they participate or not. Could this poll be a harbinger of Emmanuel Macron’s next resignation?

Since the announcement of the promulgation of the text, Emmanuel Macron spoke for the first time on the news of TF 1 live from the Elysée. Indeed, on April 17, the president reversed the decision of the Constitutional Council. He reaffirmed the need for this reform. But, once again, Emmanuel Macron seemed to deny the anger of the French. Nevertheless, he could not escape it during his recent trips.

But, the confrontation with the locals began long before his visit. Indeed, during his speech, small groups gathered in Savoie for a concert of saucepans. The objective was to show that they do not wish to listen to Emmanuel Macron’s speech and that they firmly opposed his choices, according to France Bleu. On Wednesday April 19, he then left for Sélestat, in the Bas-Rhin, where he was booed. He then added the next day that “eggs and saucepans are for cooking”, as collected by FranceInfo. Would his confrontation with the French push him out of office?

Following his first meeting in the east of France with the inhabitants, prefectural decrees prohibited casserole and egg during these meetings. However, in the Hérault, he faced the same anger. Some then called for his resignation. In Pérols, the president found his opponents. Among them, a young woman asked him for an explanation of his decisions not taking into account the citizens who voted against Marine Le Pen and not for him, according to the BFMTV broadcast.

“I’m not going to resign, I assure you. I assure you that won’t happen. We’ll have to wait until 2027. But it doesn’t matter,” he announced. Emmanuel Macron will therefore not leave office before the next presidential elections and continues to defend the need for his reform.