Unrest and disturbances in France as over a million demonstrators voice their opposition to proposed budget reductions
In a display of widespread discontent, French citizens have taken to the streets in nationwide protests and strikes, opposing President Emmanuel Macron's austerity policies. The demonstrations, which are expected to be the most widely followed day of union-led protests and strikes since early 2023, have seen tens of thousands of people participate.
The protests, which have disrupted public transport and closed schools, are a response to the perceived disproportionate impact of austerity measures on the poorest members of society. Many protesters, including schoolchildren, have taken to the streets carrying slogans against austerity.
Sophie Binet, the leader of the French CGT union, estimated that the number of participants in the demonstrations exceeded 400,000 in France. However, the interior ministry initially expected between 600,000 and 900,000 people to protest, with the actual number being more than 260,000 according to the interior minister.
The protests have not been without incident. Sporadic clashes with the police have been reported, with some protesters directly targeting President Macron, who is enduring his worst-ever popularity levels. In Marseille, a policeman was caught on camera kicking a protester, while in Lyon, a France TV journalist and a police officer were injured during clashes between police and masked youths.
The appointment of Prime Minister Lecornu has not calmed the anger of unions and many French people. Some protesters are demanding that Macron resign, while others are calling for a break from the past to defuse a deepening political crisis.
Union-led actions have blocked bus depots in the northern city of Lille, and protesters in the southern city of Nice have thrown an effigy of Macron into the air. In Paris, Marseille, Lyon, and other cities, early, unauthorized demonstrations saw protesters using tear gas and encountering police violence.
One protester, Samuel Gaillard, a 58-year-old garbage truck driver, expressed frustration with high taxes, saying 'We're fed up with being taxed like crazy.' To manage the protests, more than 80,000 police and security forces have been deployed, backed by drones, armored vehicles, and water cannon.
As the protests continue, it remains to be seen whether they will lead to significant changes in Macron's austerity policies or further fuel the political crisis in France.
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