Mass Strikes Sweep France Over Budget Cuts
Unions mobilise hundreds of thousands as public services, wages and pensions come under pressure; Prime Minister Lecornu braces for political fallout.
France witnessed widespread strikes and demonstrations as over a million people marched through major cities to protest against government budget cuts on September 18, 2025.
Working groups from teachers and healthcare to transportation and pharmacies joined the action, calling on President Emmanuel Macron and his newly appointed Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to reverse sweeping cuts in the 2026 budget.
The cuts, part of a broader austerity program, are aimed at stabilizing public finances but have been met with fierce resistance.
Protesters also denounce long-standing concerns: stagnant wages, high cost of living, perceived erosion of public services including hospitals and schools, and pension reforms introduced earlier under Macron.
Multiple major trade unions including the CGT, CFDT, FSU, SUD, among others coordinated the strike, demanding greater social justice in framing the budget, more robust protections for public sector workers, and that wealthier individuals bear more of the fiscal burden.
Clashes broke out in Paris and Marseille, where police used tear gas to disperse groups of protesters. Union leaders said the demonstrations were just the beginning of a “long fight” against austerity.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, who assumed office recently, has sought to soften or revise parts of the austerity plan. He has scrapped some proposals (such as cutting public holidays) and trimmed perks for former ministers, but core spending reductions remain under the budget draft.
Lecornu has committed to dialogue with unions and political parties, seeking consensus as he works to push through the 2026 budget amid divided opinion in parliament.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau ordered an expansive security deployment (including police, gendarmes, drones, and water cannon) to manage the protests and potential escalations
Analysts warn the unrest could disrupt France’s fragile economic recovery and undermine public support for Macron’s reforms. The government has urged dialogue but insists the budget measures are necessary to keep the economy stable.
Source: The Guardian
