The French have rejected Macron’s love for the EU

Another 1.2 million people took to the streets in France yesterday to protest against Emmanuel Macron’s plan to push back the age of retirement from 62 to 64. His prime minister, Elisabeth Borne, insisted at the weekend that his pension reforms are non-negotiable. We’ll see about that, was the response of the people, who for the second time in a fortnight demonstrated en masse.  

But they are protesting about much more than just the pension reform. This is the culmination of six years of ras-le-bol (despair), the word one hears most frequently from the demonstrators. I have seen it countless times scrawled on placards, banners and on the yellow vests worn by those on the street. 

There is another word frequently heard – ‘Macron’, and it’s not uttered with respect or admiration. It’s quite something to stand among thousands of Frenchmen and women as they chant as one ‘Macron démission’ (Macron, resign). 

A poll this week revealed that 63 per cent of the French think their president is not up to the job.