Paris – Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across France on Thursday to protest President Emmanuel Macron’s austerity measures and call on newly appointed Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu to reconsider proposed budget cuts. Demonstrators demanded increased funding for public services, higher taxes on the wealthy, and the repeal of a controversial pension reform that raised the retirement age.
The nationwide strike disrupted hospitals, schools, pharmacies, and regional train services, while high school students staged demonstrations in solidarity with the labor movement, blocking dozens of schools. Sophie Binet, head of the General Confederation of Labour (CGT), said, “The resolve is as great as the rage. I want to convey to Mr. Lecornu that the streets must influence budget decisions.” CGT estimated that around one million people participated, though official figures suggested closer to half that number.
France’s largest unions, CFDT and CGT, urged the government to adopt a “socially fair” budget rather than continuing with deep cutbacks. CFDT leader Marylise Leon described the protests as “a warning, a clear warning to Sebastien Lecornu.”
Authorities deployed roughly 80,000 police and gendarmes, supported by drones and armored vehicles, to manage the demonstrations. Clashes in Paris, Lyon, and Nantes saw protesters throwing stones and cans, prompting the use of tear gas and resulting in more than 180 arrests. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau noted that “in almost all cases, marches and demonstrations took place under favourable conditions.”
While most high-speed TGV trains ran as scheduled, regional rail networks faced significant disruptions. According to the FSU-SNUipp union, about one in three primary school teachers nationwide, and nearly half in Paris, joined the walkout.
Prime Minister Lecornu, responsible for crafting the upcoming budget, responded on X, stating that he will meet with unions in the coming days and that the protesters’ concerns are “at the heart of consultations I have initiated.”
France’s budget deficit last year nearly doubled the European Union’s 3% limit. Investors are pressuring the government to reduce it, but union resistance and opposition from left-wing groups make reform challenging. Last week, the parliament rejected a previous austerity package worth €44 billion proposed by Lecornu’s predecessor, François Bayrou. Lecornu has indicated a willingness to make concessions but has yet to outline specific strategies.
