(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Massive Anti-Austerity Protests Rock France: Thousands Hit Streets Against Budget Cuts
In a show of massive public fury, hundreds of thousands of people flooded the streets of France on Thursday to protest against tough budget cuts. They urged President Emmanuel Macron and new Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu to rethink their plans, as reported by France 24. These anti-austerity protests highlighted growing anger over slashed public spending and rising inequality.
The nationwide strikes brought daily life to a standstill. Schools shut down, trains stopped running, hospitals faced staff shortages, and even pharmacies closed. Protesters demanded more funding for public services, higher taxes on the rich, and a rollback of the unpopular pension reform that raised the retirement age. In a bold show of support, teenagers blocked dozens of high schools across the country, joining the labor movement in solidarity.
Union leaders didn’t hold back. Sophie Binet, head of the powerful General Confederation of Labour (CGT), declared, "The anger is immense, and so is the determination. My message to Mr. Lecornu today is this: it’s the streets that must decide the budget." The CGT claimed one million people joined the marches, though official numbers put it at around 500,000. France’s two biggest unions, CGT and CFDT, issued a strong warning to the government. "This is a clear warning to Sebastien Lecornu," said Marylise Leon, CFDT’s leader, pushing for a fairer budget instead of deep cuts.
Police presence was huge, with nearly 80,000 officers, including riot squads, drones, and armored vehicles, deployed nationwide. Tensions boiled over in cities like Paris, Lyon, and Nantes. Protesters threw stones and cans, prompting police to fire tear gas. The interior ministry reported over 180 arrests, but Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau noted that most demonstrations stayed peaceful.
Transport took the biggest hit from the France protests. Regional trains ground to a halt, though high-speed TGV services mostly kept going. One in three primary school teachers walked out nationwide, with nearly half in Paris joining the strike, according to the FSU-SNUipp union.
Prime Minister Lecornu, who’s now in charge of crafting next year’s budget and forming a new government, responded on X (formerly Twitter). He promised to meet with unions soon, saying, "Demonstrators’ demands are at the heart of the consultations I’ve initiated." But challenges loom large. France’s budget deficit last year hit nearly twice the European Union’s 3% limit, and investors are demanding cuts. With no parliamentary majority, Lecornu faces tough opposition from unions and left-wing parties. His predecessor, Francois Bayrou, got voted out last week after proposing a €44 billion austerity plan. Lecornu hasn’t detailed his strategy yet but hinted at possible compromises.
These France anti-austerity protests signal a deepening divide, with workers and citizens fighting to protect public services amid economic pressures. As talks continue, all eyes are on whether Lecornu can bridge the gap.
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