‘President of chaos’: Macron to address France after ‘Pyrrhic’ pensions victory

After months of violent protests, Emmanuel Macron has rammed through a deeply unpopular law – sparking warnings the crisis is not over.

French President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reforms could spell the beginning of the end for his presidency. Picture: Sarah Meyssonnier/AFP

French President Emmanuel Macron will address the country on Monday for the first time since signing into law his controversial pension reform, as he faces warnings the political and social crisis sparked by the changes is not over.

Mr Macron signed the legislation on Saturday, just hours after the banner change to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 had been validated by the constitutional court, prompting accusations he was smuggling the law through in the dead of night.

After three months of protests and strikes, the left and unions have vowed not to give in and have warned of mass protests on Labour Day on May 1.

French President Emmanuel Macron. Picture: Sarah Meyssonnier/AFP

Polls have consistently showed a majority of French remain opposed to the reform, which the government got through parliament using a controversial mechanism allowing it to be passed without a vote.

Meanwhile, Mr Macron’s own personal popularity ratings have eroded, with some analysts suggesting he has given a headstart to far-right leader Marine Le Pen in the long path to 2027 elections.

The press has widely dubbed it a “Pyrrhic victory” after the Greek king who defeated the Romans but saw most of his army destroyed in the process.

Protesters clash with police on Saturday. Picture: Lou Benoist/AFP

‘President of chaos’

Mr Macron is expected to address the nation at around 6pm GMT (4am Tuesday AEST), presidential sources said, in a speech that government spokesman Olivier Veran said would be in the spirit of “pacification”.

But on Sunday, the leader of the powerful CGT union Sophie Binet said Mr Macron was “on his way to becoming the president of chaos”.

“He is opening the way to the National Rally,” she said – which is the party of Ms Le Pen. One poll has shown her as the victor if the 2022 presidential election was re-run at the present time.

Controversial pension reforms have been signed into law. Picture: Lou Benoist/AFP

“Emmanuel Macron is far from finished from having to deal with the social and political crisis, which he continues to dangerously stir up,” newspaper Le Monde said in an editorial.

It noted that Ms Le Pen was the only French politician whose popularity has been notably boosted by the crisis, while trust in the country’s democratic institutions has fallen.

“The cost of the pensions reform appears to be exorbitant,” it said.

The crisis also comes at a time of increasing challenges on the international stage for Mr Macron, who faced accusations of cosying up to China on a visit to Beijing last week.

France has been gripped by months of protests. Picture: Lou Benoist/AFP

‘Determined to accelerate’

Mr Macron, 45, came to power in 2017 promising reform in France and fresh new politics. But opponents accuse him of behaviour that is increasingly reclusive and anti-democratic.

“Emmanuel Macron no longer has authority … so suddenly he is becoming brutal and authoritarian,” hard-left deputy Clementine Autain told French TV on Sunday.

Ms Le Pen said Mr Macron had three choices to end a crisis “which he created himself” – a referendum on the changes, legislative elections or resignation.

A protester holds a sign reading, ‘No pension, no Olympics.’ Picture: Lou Benoist/AFP

But on Saturday, French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne vowed the government would press ahead with more reforms now the pensions overhaul was passed.

“We are determined to accelerate” the pace of reforms, she told the national council of Macron’s Renaissance party.

Ms Binet and other union bosses have called for a “popular and historic tidal wave” of people on the streets to oppose the reforms on May 1.

As a prelude to the May 1 protests, railway unions are calling for a day of “railway anger” on April 20.

Originally published as ‘President of chaos’: Macron to address France after ‘Pyrrhic’ pensions victory