Mass Demonstrations against Austerity Measures: Over a Hundred Thousand people rallying on French streets - Mass demonstrations against budget cuts: Over a hundred thousand people on French streets
The country of France is currently experiencing disruptions to various aspects of public life due to a series of strikes and protests. The strikes, which have affected around 17% of teachers and blocked about two dozen high schools, are in response to the austerity plans of former Prime Minister François Bayrou, who aimed to save 44 billion euros, including by scrapping two public holidays.
As the new Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, prepares to take office, he is currently consulting with party representatives to find a budget compromise for the heavily indebted country. France's current debt stands at around 114 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with a deficit of 5.8 percent of GDP last year, leading to a recent downgrade of France's credit rating by rating agency Fitch.
The demonstrations have caused disruptions to French rail traffic and metro lines in Paris, with the government advising employees to work from home if possible. The Paris police chief has also advised shop owners to close their businesses, and around 80,000 police officers have been deployed, equipped with water cannons and numerous drones, to maintain order.
The protests began in Paris at the Bastille Square in the afternoon and are expected to attract up to 900,000 participants. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau expressed optimism about the protests: "The protests are less bad than expected." However, security forces anticipate several hundred troublemakers may infiltrate the demonstrations.
Marylise Léon, head of the CFDT union, participated in the Paris demonstration and called for fiscal, social, and ecological justice. Lecornu has ruled out the planned scrapping of public holidays and announced certain restrictions on privileges for former prime ministers. Clashes during the protests led to the closure of the Paris Tolbiac University.
Lecornu met with representatives of the left-green and right-wing populist opposition on Wednesday, but no compromise has emerged in the negotiations. Many French people are angry at President Emmanuel Macron, whose poll numbers have plummeted, and the protests are a reflection of this discontent.
The official presentation date of Lecornu's cabinet as the new Prime Minister of France is not explicitly mentioned in the provided search results, but it is expected to be presented until the end of next week, after Macron's return from the UN General Assembly in New York.
