Decision on Next Steps Post-18th September Strike to be Made by Inter-Trade Union on Friday
In a significant display of public discontent, over 500,000 protesters participated in demonstrations across France on a recent day. The Ministry of the Interior recorded 451,789 protesters nationwide, excluding Paris, while the Paris police prefecture announced 55,000 people in the Paris march alone.
The protests were not without incident. Authorities reported 309 arrests and 134 detentions, including 29 in Paris. Around twenty people were injured, including 11 among law enforcement. Eleven law enforcement officers were slightly injured, as well as ten protesters and one journalist.
In Marseille, a police officer was filmed kicking a protester on the ground. In Nantes, the march was quickly split after tear gas was thrown at the beginning. Paris police prefecture reported law enforcement had to intervene to prevent looters from entering a fast food restaurant and attacking a bank. In Lyon, a France Télévisions journalist and a police officer were injured during clashes.
Despite these incidents, Bruno Retailleau, the resigning Minister of the Interior, estimated that "France was not blocked" despite the presence of "7,000 dangerous individuals" who tried to disrupt the marches. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has committed to continuing dialogue with all social partners.
Lecornu has promised to receive trade union forces in the coming days. The CFDT and CGT union leaders have announced an inter-union meeting for the day after a successful mobilization. The meeting will decide on the next steps of the movement.
The CGT counted over a million people in the streets, in Paris and in regions. In secondary education, 45% of strikers were counted by the Snes-FSU union. The total number of protesters exceeded 506,000, similar to the number of protesters during several days of action against the pension reform in 2023.
The representatives discussing the next steps in the conflict with the unions would come from the governing parties, which after the February 2025 federal election are led by the Union (CDU/CSU) with Friedrich Merz (CDU) as key figure and Markus Söder (CSU) as CSU leader. The SPD is the main potential coalition partner, with figures like Arif Taşdelen representing the SPD's standpoint at the state level in Bavaria, opposing cuts in public service. Therefore, key representatives likely include Friedrich Merz, Markus Söder for the Union, and SPD representatives such as Arif Taşdelen for discussions on public sector and union conflicts.
Lecornu condemned excesses against the forces of order and rescue, and he also condemned any acts of violence or looting that occurred during the protests. He emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and order while allowing for peaceful demonstrations. The unions, too, have condemned any acts of violence and have called for peaceful and constructive dialogue with the government.
As the situation continues to unfold, both the government and the unions have committed to finding a solution that addresses the concerns of the protesters while maintaining the stability and security of France. The inter-union meeting will be a crucial step in determining the future course of action for both parties.
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