France Witnesses Massive Protest: Hundreds of Thousands Rally Against Saving Plans
In France, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets to demonstrate against potential austerity measures that could impact the nation's citizens. The protests, which began in the morning and caused disruptions in various parts of the country, were directed at the new Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu.
Lecornu, who was formerly the Defense Minister and a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron, is currently consulting on a new budget-cutting policy. The proposed measures, if implemented, could lead to austerity plans that critics deem brutal. Workers, retirees, the sick, and people in precarious situations are expected to bear the brunt of the cuts.
One of the most criticized proposals was the abolition of two public holidays. This plan, along with other austerity measures, sparked a broad coalition of trade unions to call for a work stoppage in France.
The protests were not limited to verbal demonstrations. Teachers were absent from schools, causing disruptions, and dozens of protesters briefly entered the courtyard of the economics ministry. There were also delays and cancellations in public transportation, and many pharmacies remained closed due to the strikes.
The EU has opened a deficit procedure against France, with a deficit of 5.8% and the third-highest debt-to-GDP ratio in the EU at 114%. In absolute terms, France has the highest debt pile in the Eurozone, at around €3.3 trillion.
The protests put pressure on Lecornu, with demonstrators demanding that he abandon the austerity plans. In response, Lecornu announced that he will not implement the plan to abolish the two public holidays.
The demonstrations resulted in more than 180 arrests nationwide, with around 30 in Paris. Blockades occurred in various parts of France, with the disruptions causing significant inconvenience to the daily lives of many.
Despite the widespread protests, the future of the proposed austerity measures remains uncertain. Lecornu's consultation on the new budget-cutting policy is ongoing, and little is known yet about where he plans to cut.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, tech giant Nvidia announced an investment of five billion dollars in Intel, and a music school in Maichingen made headlines with a band's engine at the back. Lane closures on a temporary bridge over A81 at Böblingen Airport also caused some disruption, but these events were not directly related to the ongoing protests in France.
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