Unrest in France escalates as over 150 individuals are detained during anti-Macron demonstrations, accompanied by strikes and impending further protests.
France is currently facing a wave of violent protests, with thousands of people taking to the streets in multiple cities, including Paris, Marseille, Lyon, and Toulouse. The unrest is in response to budget cuts worth £40 billion by the government of Emmanuel Macron.
The protests, reminiscent of the 2018-19 Yellow Vest uprising, are powered by younger protesters demanding 'more social justice and less inequality.' Chants of 'Macron, resign!' were heard during the protests in Paris.
In the heart of the capital, protesters set fire to wooden pallets outside the Gare du Nord and blocked high school entrances. Paris Police Chief Laurent Nunez admitted he was 'very concerned' about ultra-left groups infiltrating the marches.
The rail workers are also threatening rolling disruptions, bracing the government for more disruption. Air traffic chaos was narrowly avoided after controllers delayed a walkout until October.
Sophie Binet, head of the CGT union, called Macron's austerity drive 'unprecedented brutality' and warned that not all 'catastrophic measures' from François Bayrou's budget have been taken off the table. Fred, a bus driver and CGT rep, said workers are currently 'despised' by the government and Macron.
Teacher Gaetan Legay agreed, stating he is there to defend public services and demand that public money goes back into public services. The revolt has drawn comparisons with the 2018-19 Yellow Vest uprising, as France wrestles with a £3trillion debt - 114% of GDP - and after Fitch downgraded the country's credit rating last week.
After the no-confidence vote on September 8, 2025, François Bayrou lost his position as Prime Minister, and Elisabeth Borne was succeeded by Damien Abad, who took over the government. So far, Damien Abad has rejected severe welfare cuts but announced that budget discussions and potential savings will be debated further to address the urgent financial crisis France faces.
Nearly a million people were expected to march in protest, and the Eiffel Tower, Metro lines, and bus services have been affected by the protests. Sébastien Lecornu, the successor of François Bayrou, has ditched plans to scrap two public holidays but refused to rule out sweeping welfare cuts.
The situation remains tense, with the government and protesters at odds over the proposed budget cuts. As the discussions continue, the people of France await a resolution to the ongoing crisis.
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