Hundreds of thousands of people joined anti-austerity protests across France on Thursday, according to unions. Demonstrators urged President Emmanuel Macron and new Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu to listen to public anger and cancel planned budget cuts.
The strikes brought together teachers, train drivers, pharmacists, and hospital staff. High school students also joined in, blocking dozens of schools for several hours. Protesters demanded more funding for public services, higher taxes on the wealthy, and the reversal of pension reforms that extended the retirement age.
“Block your high school against austerity,” read one sign held by students outside the Lycee Maurice Ravel in Paris. Union representatives warned that workers felt increasingly despised by the government and Macron.
Union leaders reported that 400,000 people participated in morning rallies, with additional demonstrations later in the day. France’s interior ministry put the figure at more than 280,000 outside of Paris. CGT leader Sophie Binet declared that “the streets must decide the budget,” while CFDT head Marylise Leon called the protests a warning to Lecornu, stressing the need for a socially fair budget.
The demonstrations disrupted schools and transportation. One in three primary school teachers went on strike nationwide, and nearly half in Paris walked out. Regional train services were heavily affected, though most high-speed TGV lines continued to operate. Protesters also slowed traffic near Toulon.
Clashes broke out on the edges of protests in cities such as Nantes and Lyon, with police using tear gas and reporting several injuries. In Paris, riot police deployed tear gas to control violent groups, making more than 140 arrests. Authorities deployed 80,000 police officers, drones, and armored vehicles across the country.
Macron and Lecornu now face pressure from both sides: protesters demanding an end to austerity and investors urging deficit control. France’s budget deficit nearly doubled the EU’s 3% limit last year, and with parliament divided, passing a new budget will be a major challenge. Lecornu’s predecessor, Francois Bayrou, was ousted over his €44 billion budget cut plan. The new prime minister has signaled he is open to compromise but has yet to announce his strategy.
