Faced with new strike movements and demonstrations for the pension reform today, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, is facing after his return from the Netherlands where he was also faced with intense protests.

Hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated once again across France expressing their strong dissatisfaction with the increase in the retirement age from 62 to 64.

At the request of the prime minister, Elizabeth Bourne, the constitutional council will decide whether the legislation is in line with the French constitution. Left-wing politicians also called for a ruling on whether a form of citizens’ referendum could be held on pension changes.

Unions said anger remains and protests will continue if the bill is signed into law.

Several schools remained closed today, while garbage bins in Paris were once again full due to a strike by garbage collection workers.

Although the number of people protesting in the streets has been limited, two-thirds of French people remain opposed to raising the retirement age and 52% want protests to continue even if the constitutional council approves the pension law on Friday, according to with an Ifop poll for Le Journal du Dimanche .

However, ministers are confident the council will approve the changes after the government used an executive order to push them through without a parliamentary vote last month. If the changes are ultimately deemed constitutional, Emmanuel Macron hopes to immediately sign the new pension rules so that they come into force before the end of 2023.