French Unions Strike Against Austerity, Pressuring President Macron

Photo: AFP

Hundreds of thousands of people across France took to the streets on Thursday to protest against government austerity plans and budget cuts. The protests, organized by unions, aimed to pressure President Emmanuel Macron and his new Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu to reconsider spending reductions and protect public services.

Workers from many sectors, including teachers, train drivers, pharmacists, and hospital staff, joined the strikes. Students also blocked dozens of high schools for several hours to show their support. The main demands of the protesters were the cancellation of planned budget cuts, more funding for schools, hospitals, and public services, higher taxes on the wealthy, and a reversal of recent changes to pension rules that require people to work longer.

Sophie Binet, head of the CGT union, told reporters, “The anger is immense, and so is the determination. My message to Mr. Lecornu today is this: it's the streets that must decide the budget.” The CGT union said around 1 million people participated in strikes and demonstrations, though authorities estimated about half that number.

While most demonstrations were peaceful, there were some clashes between police and protesters. Police in Paris used teargas to control groups of troublemakers who threw stones and beer cans. Authorities also prevented attacks on banks. Similar incidents occurred in other cities like Nantes and Lyon, where three people were reported injured. Over 180 people were arrested, according to the Interior Ministry. To manage the situation, around 80,000 police and gendarmes were deployed nationwide, including riot units, drones, and armoured vehicles.

The strikes disrupted schools and transport. Nearly one in two primary school teachers in Paris did not go to work, and regional trains were heavily affected. However, most high-speed TGV lines continued to operate. Protesters also blocked roads in some areas, including near the southeastern city of Toulon.

Unions said the protests were meant to pressure the government to create a socially fair budget. Marylise Leon, head of the CFDT, France’s largest union, said, “This is a warning, a clear warning to Sebastien Lecornu. We want a socially fair budget.”

Prime Minister Lecornu responded on social media, saying he would meet union leaders in the coming days and acknowledged that their demands were “at the heart of the consultations” he had begun. Macron and Lecornu face pressure from both sides: unions and left-wing parties oppose budget cuts, while investors worry about France’s deficit in the euro zone’s second-largest economy. The parliament is divided, with no single party holding a majority, making negotiations more difficult.