Unions have launched mass strikes across France to protest against government proposals for budget cuts.
The demonstrations on Thursday were sparked by the government’s austerity plans, which have increased anger towards President Emmanuel Macron. The 47-year-old French leader has seen his popularity drop to new lows amid a government crisis that shows little sign of dissipating despite his appointment last week of new Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu.
About one in six primary and secondary schoolteachers walked out on Thursday, and nine out of 10 pharmacies were closed as unions promised one of the largest mobilisations since last year’s battle over pension reform.
Trade unions said they were pleased with the scale of the protests.
“We have recorded 260 demonstrations across France,” Sophie Binet, leader of the CGT union, told the AFP news agency. “There are thousands and thousands of strikes in all workplaces.”
Just before 4 p.m. local time, national police reported 282,477 protesters, excluding Paris, with 140 arrests made nationwide, Le Figaro reported.
Severe disruptions were reported across the Paris Metro system, with only three driverless lines expected to run normally.
While most high-speed trains are expected to offer continued service, the Metro and suburban rail services face major delays. Air traffic disruptions, however, should be limited after controllers postponed their planned strike until October.
Data from state-controlled utility EDF showed nuclear power production was cut by 1.1 gigawatts on Thursday morning as workers lowered output as part of the industrial action.
Massive presence
Expecting 600,000 to 900,000 protesters nationwide, officials deployed large numbers of police, saying they feared violence on the sidelines of union marches.
Just before 4:30 p.m. local time, Le Figaro reported that around 70 people tried to enter the Ministry of Culture, blocking three of the building’s entrances.
“Since they don’t want us to come in, no one will come into the ministry,” protesters shouted, calling out to Minister Rachida Dati, “you’re done for, culture is in the streets.”
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau warned of a “very, very strong” mobilisation, describing the day as a “hybrid” event mixing sanctioned demonstrations with potential sabotage from ultra-left groups.
He said more than 80,000 police officers, supported by drones, armoured vehicles and water cannon, would be deployed.
Police in Paris used tear gas to disperse unauthorised demonstrations early on Thursday, and in Marseille, where police said they encountered “hostile” demonstrators, an AFPTV reporter filmed a policeman kicking a protester on the ground.
In Lyon, a France TV journalist and a police officer were injured during clashes between police and a group of masked youths at a rally.
“Every day the richest get richer and the poor get poorer,” Bruno Cavalier, a 64-year-old protester carrying a placard reading, “Smile, you are being taxed,” told AFP in Lyon, France’s third largest city.
On the outskirts of the northern city of Lille, protesters took part in an early morning union-led action to block bus depots.
“The aim is to show the government that we’re here, that we’re fed up with being taxed like crazy, that we’re fed up with having trouble making ends meet,” said Samuel Gaillard, a 58-year-old rubbish truck driver.
Even schoolchildren joined the demonstrations. About 300 pupils blocked access to the Maurice Ravel secondary school in eastern Paris, brandishing signs, some of which read, “Block your school against austerity.”
Lecornu, a former defence minister who took office as Macron’s seventh prime minister, promised to chart a new course, but that has failed to soften worker hostility.
Unions remain furious over a 44-billion-euro ($52bn) austerity plan drafted by Lecornu’s predecessor, Francois Bayrou. They are also sceptical of Lecornu’s promises to scrap the lifelong privileges enjoyed by prime ministers and to abandon a proposal to cut two public holidays.
The government argues that deep cuts are needed to reduce France’s budget deficit. Last year’s deficit was nearly double that of the European Union’s threshold of 3 percent of the country’s gross domestic product. But Lecornu, who lacks a parliamentary majority, faces a bruising fight to pass a 2026 budget.
“We feel that our colleagues were not fooled by the appointment of Sebastien Lecornu,” Sophie Venetitay, general secretary of SNES-FSU, the leading union for middle and high school teachers, said, adding that it “did not calm the anger”.
Binet said Macron himself remained the biggest obstacle to reversing the pension reform. “[The] obstacle [is] in the Elysee Palace,” she declared.
Retirees protesting on Thursday lamented Macron’s pension reform.
“I’m here to put an end to the pension reform,” Florence, 85, told Le Figaro. “We have to get there. I worked until I was 60; I couldn’t have worked until I was 64.”
Thursday’s day of action marks Lecornu’s first major test in office, but the real political reckoning is aimed squarely at Macron, who has 18 months left in power and faces his lowest-ever approval ratings.
“Workers are currently so despised by this government and by Macron that, in fact, it can’t continue like this,” bus driver and union representative Fred said at a rally in front of a Paris high school blocked by students.
