President Emmanuel Macron’s landmark pension reform that sparked weeks of nationwide protests passed a critical constitutional test on Friday and could now be put into effect in the coming days, Reuters reported.

The legislation, which raises the retirement age from 62 to 64, is deeply unpopular in France and has sparked mass protests in recent weeks.

But in a major relief for Macron and his government, the country’s Constitutional Council gave the green light – with only a few minor caveats.

The council said the government’s actions were constitutional and approved raising the statutory retirement age, as well as overturning several measures aimed at increasing the employment of older workers on the grounds that they were not part of the legislation.

Macron and his government hope the result will deter further union protests, which have sometimes turned violent.

“The country must continue to move forward, work and face the challenges that await us,” Macron said earlier this week.

The government announced that the reform will be implemented from September 1, as planned.

However, unions and the opposition warned they would not back down and urged Macron not to implement it.

“The fight continues,” said the leader of the far left, Jean-Luc Mélenchon.

Protesters gathered outside the Paris city hall holding placards reading “Atmosphere of anger” and “perpetual strikes until the repeal of the reform”, as the verdict of the Constitutional Council was announced.