Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron said he was prepared to accept unpopularity as a consequence of imposing a controversial pensions reform that has sparked uproar and protests.

"Given a choice between opinion polls in the short term and the general interest of the country, I choose the general interest of the country," Macron said in a televised interview.

"If it is necessary to accept unpopularity today I will accept it," he added, while acknowledging he had "not succeeded in convincing" the country over the reform.