Macron wants reform in place by end of year

French President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday the pension bill he pushed through without a vote in parliament needs to be implemented by the “end of the year,” sticking to his decision to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 despite mass protests.

Macron, who made the comments in an interview broadcast on national television, said the bill will “continue its democratic path.”

The Constitutional Council needs to review the bill in the coming weeks, and it can only be turned into law after the body gives its approval.

It was the first time Macron spoke publicly since his government forced the pension bill through parliament last week, prompting scattered protests in Paris and across the country, some degenerating into violence.

His government survived two no-confidence votes at the lower chamber of parliament on Monday.

The 45-year-old president repeatedly said he was convinced that France’s retirement system had needed to be modified to keep it financed.

“That reform is not a luxury, it is not fun, it’s a necessity for the country,” he said.

Macron also condemned the violence at some protests.

He notably referred to rioters storming the U.S. Capitol in 2021 and Brazil’s top government buildings earlier this year, as well as the yellow vest movement against social injustice in France in 2018 which led to violent clashes and vandalism in the Paris streets.

At the same time, Macron insisted he respects unions and protests organized by opponents to show that they disagree with the pension plan, seeking to clarify he considers they are legitimate — unlike troublemakers.

“We must listen to them, listen to their anger and respond to it,” he said.

Unions have called for new countrywide protests and strikes on Thursday.