France is facing widespread protests and strikes by teachers, hospital staff, transport workers and others as trade unions push back against proposed austerity measures, budget cuts and reforms under President Macron and new Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu.
France braces for major nationwide disruption on Thursday as unions launch mass strikes and protests in opposition to government austerity plans. Workers including teachers, hospital and pharmacy staff, and transport employees are expected to walk out, while many pharmacies will close and public transport systems—especially metros and suburban rails—will face severe delays.
Unions are demanding the rollback of proposed budget cuts, increased taxation on the wealthy, protection of public services, and reversal of the recent pension reform that raised the retirement age from 62 to 64. Sébastien Lecornu, newly appointed prime minister, faces high expectations to negotiate or renegotiate elements of the proposed €44 billion austerity package drafted under the outgoing administration.
Authorities are preparing for up to 900,000 protesters nationwide. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said more than 80,000 police and gendarmes, backed by riot units, drones and armoured vehicles, will be deployed. “The workers we represent are angry,” the main unions said in a joint statement rejecting the previous government’s “brutal” and “unfair” fiscal plans.