Demonstrators marched through over 200 towns and cities in France on Thursday to express their opposition to budget reductions and call for increased taxes on wealthy individuals.
In Paris, at least 24,000 workers, pensioners, and students began a protest on Thursday afternoon, starting from Place d'Italie, as the Eiffel Tower announced to visitors that it was closed because of the strike.
A countrywide strike, organized by France's leading unions, is the most recent in a sequence of demonstrations that began last month during a period of political instability and intense budget discussions.
The CGT, the nation's biggest union, estimated the number at 600,000, although its own leaders acknowledged that the movement was losing strength in comparison to demonstrations in September that attracted around half a million participants.
Unions are calling on Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to reject proposed budget changes from his predecessor, which involve freezing social benefits and implementing austerity policies that critics argue will continue to reduce the buying capacity of low-income and middle-income employees.
They also advocate for increased taxes on France's richest individuals.
"The public frustration is very intense," said Sophie Binet, a leader from CGT, during an interview on French TV channel BFMTV, noting that unions are calling for "social justice" and assurances that the sacrifices imposed by the new budget will be equitably shared.
Lecornu, who was named recently, has not yet revealed the specifics of his financial strategy and still needs to select his cabinet members, an action that is anticipated in the near future.
He is scheduled to present his overall policy address in parliament and finalize the government's financial plan. On Friday, he will hold a series of meetings with opposition leaders, including Marine Le Pen from the far-right National Rally, as well as representatives from the Socialist Party, the Greens, and the Communists.
Their backing—or possible warnings of a no-confidence motion—will be essential during the upcoming budget vote.
As reported by French media, sources close to the prime minister indicate that he is considering actions to alleviate the cost of living for employees, such as a potential reduction in income tax for low-income couples and lower payroll costs for extra hours worked.
Government collapse
The former minority administration, headed by François Bayrou, fell in early September following the loss of a key confidence vote in the legislature.
Bayrou had suggested a set of unliked policies in an effort to control France's unstable public finances.
Last year, the deficit amounted to 5.8% of GDP, almost twice the EU limit of 3%, while the country's debt has climbed to over €3.3 trillion, equivalent to about 114% of its economic output.
Bayrou claimed that significant reductions were necessary, presenting a proposal to reduce expenditures by €44 billion by 2026, partially through eliminating two national holidays.
Binet stated on Thursday: "It's accurate, this is the first instance where there have been three days of strikes and demonstrations in a single month without a government or budget in place."
Speaking with BFM TV, she was questioned regarding the timing of the most recent move.
Why are we demonstrating at this moment? Because we believe that crucial choices are being made right now, and we wish to be listened to.
The French Interior Ministry reported that 85,000 demonstrators had taken to the streets in Paris by midday.
The national railway company, SNCF, stated that high-speed train services were operating as usual on Thursday, although certain regional lines experienced limited interruptions.
In Paris, subway movement was nearly back to usual, although numerous commuter trains were operating with limited passenger numbers.
Several educators and medical professionals have also participated in the strike, yet initial data suggested a lower turnout compared to the previous month.
On 18 September, over 500,000 people took to the streets in various towns and cities across France, including Paris, as per data from the police and interior ministry. Unions stated that more than 1 million workers and demonstrators participated nationwide.
The day prior, a wave of anti-government protests throughout France resulted in streets filled with smoke, barricades burning, and streams of tear gas during the "Block Everything" initiative.
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