France was rocked on Thursday by massive anti-austerity street marches and widespread labor strikes. These actions significantly increase the pressure on Sébastien Lecornu, the nation’s newly appointed prime minister, as he endeavors to push through a budget aimed at reducing the national debt before the year’s end.
Hundreds of thousands of people, including teachers, railway workers, students, and civil servants, participated in the protests and work stoppages throughout France. The nation has been embroiled in renewed political turmoil and escalating worries about its fragile financial situation in recent weeks.
From Lyon to Marseille, Nantes, and Nice, demonstrators filled city streets, closely monitored by riot police. To prevent potential violence and vandalism, authorities deployed an estimated 80,000 security officers nationwide.
These protests were orchestrated by labor unions incensed by former Prime Minister François Bayrou’s proposal to slash 44 billion euros (approximately $51 billion) from next year’s state budget. Bayrou was removed from office by lawmakers last week, and President Emmanuel Macron swiftly appointed Sébastien Lecornu, a centrist and trusted ally, as his replacement.
However, the public’s fury over Bayrou’s proposed budget cuts has not subsided. It remains uncertain whether Prime Minister Lecornu, who pledged a ‘break’ from previous policies, intends to entirely abandon his predecessor’s plans or use them as a foundation for legislative amendments.
Labor unions argue that any budget similar to Bayrou’s, which would freeze welfare payments, would unfairly burden working-class and middle-income families. They demand increased taxes on the wealthy and corporations, greater investment in public services, and a reversal of President Macron’s controversial decision to raise the legal retirement age.
“We are delivering a very clear warning to the government today,” stated Marylise Léon, head of the French Democratic Confederation of Labor, the nation’s largest union, during a march in Paris. “The budget cannot be balanced solely at the expense of workers.”
In Paris, metro services were limited to rush hour, and regional train traffic faced disruptions, though high-speed rail remained largely unaffected. Union estimates suggested participation from approximately one-third of elementary school teachers and 45 percent of secondary school teachers, although the Education Ministry reported lower figures by midday.
Cultural landmarks were also impacted; sections of the Louvre Museum were closed, and the Eiffel Tower ceased operations. Authorities even delayed the highly anticipated transfer of the Bayeux Tapestry, which was scheduled to be moved to a storage facility under strict security ahead of its loan to Britain next year.
Following a crisis meeting in Paris, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau announced that blockades of bus depots, roads, schools, and other key infrastructure were “less intense than expected” by midday. The Interior Ministry confirmed that 140 individuals had been arrested in connection with the demonstrations.
Last week, nearly 200,000 people participated in similar protests across France, sparked by an unorganized online movement known as Bloquons Tout (Let’s Block Everything). Although these earlier demonstrations didn’t paralyze the country, their surprisingly large turnout, double official estimates, revealed widespread and profound public dissatisfaction.
Prime Minister Lecornu swiftly reversed one of his predecessor’s most unpopular proposals: the elimination of two national holidays. He also announced that the government would reduce certain privileges for former cabinet members, such as police protection, personal secretaries, and drivers. However, this measure is largely symbolic, offering only a negligible saving compared to France’s burgeoning $198 billion deficit, the largest recorded since World War II.
“We cannot ask the French people to make sacrifices if those leading the state are not willing to do so themselves,” Lecornu stated in a recent interview with French newspapers.
For the past week, Lecornu has engaged in consultations with various political parties and labor representatives, striving to finalize his 2026 budget and prevent the same fate as his two immediate predecessors, both of whom were ousted by legislators. However, the lower house of Parliament remains deeply fractured into three distinct blocs—left, center, and far-right—each holding opposing views on how to tackle France’s financial challenges.
Fitch Ratings recently downgraded France’s sovereign debt rating, citing the nation’s “increased fragmentation and polarization” in politics. The country’s deficit far exceeds the eurozone’s 3 percent threshold, and its national debt has soared to €3.35 trillion this year, representing 116 percent of its economic output, making it one of the eurozone’s most heavily indebted nations.
In an effort to break the political stalemate, the nationalist, anti-immigrant National Rally party is pressuring President Macron to call for new parliamentary elections, while the far-left France Unbowed party demands his resignation. Macron, however, has rejected both calls, tasking Prime Minister Lecornu with forging a difficult compromise on the budget.
This political landscape places the more moderate Socialist Party in a pivotal position. With 66 lawmakers in the 577-seat lower house, they hold significant power, capable of determining the outcome of a no-confidence vote. Yet, their key demands, including a 2 percent wealth tax on assets exceeding €100 million, clash directly with President Macron’s pro-business policies.
Following a meeting on Wednesday, Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure commented that Lecornu remained elusive regarding his budget proposals, stating, “So far, we are left hungry for more.”