Macron wants the French pension system in place by the end of the year.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday that the pension bill that he pushed through without a vote in parliament needs to be implemented by the "end of the year." Macron, who made the comments in an interview broadcast on national television, said the bill that raises the retirement age from 62 to 64 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. Macron "condemned" violence after his decision last week prompted daily, scattered protests in cities around France, some degenerating into scuffles with police, including in Paris. Dock workers in Marseille blocked access to the city's commercial port, and sanitation workers entered their 17th day of the strike. Oil shipments in the country were partially disrupted amid strikes at several refineries in western and southern France. Unions have called for new nationwide protests and strikes on Thursday to demand that the government withdraw the retirement bill. High-speed and regional trains, Paris metro and other public transportation in major cities were expected to be disrupted.