Mass Strikes and Protests Have Shaken France Amid Budget Dispute

Mass Strikes and Protests Have Shaken France Amid Budget Dispute
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Teachers, transport workers, hospital staff, pharmacists, and public sector employees have gone on strike across France in a rare show of unity among trade unions seeking to pressure Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to reconsider budget cuts and address wages, pensions, and public services, The Guardian has reported.

An estimated 800,000 people have joined marches nationwide, marking one of the largest strike days in years. Schools, railways, and air transport services have been heavily disrupted, with up to 80,000 police deployed across the country from early morning. Several bus depots in Paris and northern France have been blockaded by morning, alongside high school blockades in the east of the capital and in cities including Amiens and Le Havre. Rail transport has also been significantly affected.

Trade unions have organized approximately 250 demonstrations, drawing large crowds protesting austerity measures. This wave of strikes has become the biggest since 2023, when widespread protests erupted over President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to raise the pension age to 64 without a parliamentary vote.

Perrine Mohr of the moderate CFDT union in northern Hauts-de-France has emphasized the need for the government to shift from a pro-business stance to one more supportive of workers and citizens. “Since Macron came to power in 2017, we have had a government offering tax relief and unconditional assistance to businesses,” she said. “What we’re asking is that the future government is more pro-workers and pro-citizens.”

The strikes come amid a political crisis following Macron’s appointment of Lecornu as France’s third prime minister in a year. Lecornu, previously defense minister, has taken office amid low approval ratings and skepticism from opposition parties about his promise of a “profound break” with past policies.

Lecornu replaced François Bayrou, who lost a confidence vote over his unpopular €44 billion austerity plan. While Lecornu has pledged to scrap the proposal to eliminate two public holidays, unions remain concerned that other budget cuts, such as welfare spending freezes, could persist.

Facing a fragmented parliament with no absolute majority after the June 2024 snap election, Lecornu must present a budget that avoids immediate rejection and no-confidence motions. He has engaged opposition parties, including the Socialist Party, which has called for an end to harsh cuts and fairer taxation on the wealthy. Socialist leader Olivier Faure has indicated Lecornu’s plans remain unclear and warned of potential future no-confidence votes.

Far-right National Rally leader Marine Le Pen has also cautioned Lecornu, stating, “If he continues the same politics, he’ll fall.” France’s budget deficit nearly doubles the EU’s 3% ceiling, and its debt stands at 114% of GDP. Last week, Fitch downgraded France’s credit rating amid concerns over political instability.