Hundreds of thousands of workers are expected to take part in strike action across France on Thursday, after trade unions called for a day of protests against budget cuts. The interior ministry said between 600,000 and 900,000 people could attend demonstrations nationwide, adding it would deploy 80,000 police officers.
The strikes come barely a week after Sébastien Lecornu, a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron, was appointed prime minister following the toppling of François Bayrou's government. Public transport was heavily disrupted on Thursday morning, with many metro lines in Paris reported shut, while protesters blocked roads and streets in major cities across France.
Students gathered in front of schools and universities in the capital and beyond, blocking entrances and chanting slogans. Around a third of teachers walked out. Pharmacists are also adhering to strike action in droves, with 98% of pharmacies expected to stay closed.
Unions have called for more spending on public services, higher taxes on the wealthy, and for the budget cuts outlined by the short-lived Bayrou government to be axed. Sophie Binet, the leader of one of France's major trade union groups, the General Confederation of Labour (CGT), said: We need to be out in force, that's how we gather strength to keep fighting... to force the government and the employers to put an end to policies that only serve the richest.
Bruno Retailleau, the outgoing interior minister, reported that 58 people had been arrested across France by mid-morning. We will be uncompromising and relentless, Retailleau warned, adding that he had given police instructions to make arrests as soon as there is the slightest slip-up. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of the radical left party France Unbowed (LFI), urged participants in the strike to be disciplined, stating that any violent actions would only serve the government.
Ahead of the protests, Laurent Nunez, the Paris prosecutor, had expressed concerns that the demonstrations would be derailed by far-left groups and urged shops in the city centre to close for the day. Thursday's strikes come after around 200,000 people took part in protests by the grassroots Bloquons Tout movement last week, which caused some disruption across France.
Bayrou's unpopular budget proposal aimed at reducing France's high public debt with €44bn in cuts led to his loss of a confidence vote in the National Assembly, as parties across the political spectrum united against him. New Prime Minister Lecornu has yet to fully renounce the cuts and is in talks with opposition parties for a budget compromise. However, France faces significant public debt, which is almost €50,000 per citizen, complicating the fiscal landscape.
The strikes come barely a week after Sébastien Lecornu, a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron, was appointed prime minister following the toppling of François Bayrou's government. Public transport was heavily disrupted on Thursday morning, with many metro lines in Paris reported shut, while protesters blocked roads and streets in major cities across France.
Students gathered in front of schools and universities in the capital and beyond, blocking entrances and chanting slogans. Around a third of teachers walked out. Pharmacists are also adhering to strike action in droves, with 98% of pharmacies expected to stay closed.
Unions have called for more spending on public services, higher taxes on the wealthy, and for the budget cuts outlined by the short-lived Bayrou government to be axed. Sophie Binet, the leader of one of France's major trade union groups, the General Confederation of Labour (CGT), said: We need to be out in force, that's how we gather strength to keep fighting... to force the government and the employers to put an end to policies that only serve the richest.
Bruno Retailleau, the outgoing interior minister, reported that 58 people had been arrested across France by mid-morning. We will be uncompromising and relentless, Retailleau warned, adding that he had given police instructions to make arrests as soon as there is the slightest slip-up. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of the radical left party France Unbowed (LFI), urged participants in the strike to be disciplined, stating that any violent actions would only serve the government.
Ahead of the protests, Laurent Nunez, the Paris prosecutor, had expressed concerns that the demonstrations would be derailed by far-left groups and urged shops in the city centre to close for the day. Thursday's strikes come after around 200,000 people took part in protests by the grassroots Bloquons Tout movement last week, which caused some disruption across France.
Bayrou's unpopular budget proposal aimed at reducing France's high public debt with €44bn in cuts led to his loss of a confidence vote in the National Assembly, as parties across the political spectrum united against him. New Prime Minister Lecornu has yet to fully renounce the cuts and is in talks with opposition parties for a budget compromise. However, France faces significant public debt, which is almost €50,000 per citizen, complicating the fiscal landscape.
