Unions in France protesting against austerity measures, exerting pressure on Macron
Strike and Protests Sweep Across France
France is experiencing a wave of strikes and protests, with various groups voicing their discontent over looming budget cuts and fiscal policies. The new government, led by President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, is facing a political crisis as they attempt to bring the country's finances under control.
The discontent is widespread, with teachers, train drivers, pharmacists, hospital staff, and even teenagers participating in the strike. The farmers' union Confederation Paysanne has also called for mobilization. The CGT union chief, Sophie Binet, has stated that they will continue to mobilize as long as there is no adequate response, and that the budget will be decided in the streets.
The strikes have caused significant disruptions across the country. Pupils are gathering to block the entrance to some schools, demanding more spending on public services, higher taxes on the wealthy, and abandonment of a change making people work longer for a pension. Many metro lines in Paris are set to be suspended for most of the day, except for morning and afternoon rush hour. Regional trains are heavily affected by the strike, while most of the country's high-speed TGV train lines will work, officials said.
As many as 800,000 people are expected to take part in the strikes and protests. To maintain order, as many as 80,000 police and gendarmes will be deployed throughout the day, with riot units, drones, and armoured vehicles on hand. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau expects as many as 8,000 troublemakers to try to "sow disorder" and clash with police.
Protesters gathered to slow down traffic on a highway near the southeastern city of Toulon. Pharmacists are angry over changes affecting their business, and a survey by the USPO pharmacists' union showed 98% of pharmacies could close for the day.
The strikes and protests are a response to the previous government's fiscal plans, which were scrapped by the newly appointed Prime Minister Lecornu. His predecessor, Francois Bayrou, was ousted by parliament last week over his plan for a 44 billion euro budget squeeze. Mr Lecornu will face a political battle to gather parliamentary support for a budget for 2026.
The budget deficit in France last year was close to double the EU's 3% ceiling. The new government is under pressure to bring the deficit under control, but the strikes and protests indicate that the path to financial stability may not be an easy one. The name of the new government cabinet formed by President Emmanuel Macron in France is not specified in the search results.
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