- Tens of thousands protest across France, disrupting transport and schools.
- Police deployed in large numbers; some clashes and injuries reported.
- Unions call for strikes, with significant participation from teachers and workers.
On Thursday, France witnessed a nationwide wave of protests and strikes as citizens expressed their frustration with President Emmanuel Macron’s austerity policies.
The unrest caused significant disruptions across the country, affecting public transportation, schools, and businesses.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that mass demonstrations erupted in cities including Lyon, Paris, Marseille, and Lille, with tens of thousands of people taking to the streets.
The protests, occasionally marked by clashes with police, were a clear sign of growing dissatisfaction with government plans to cut spending.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, recently appointed as Macron’s seventh head of government, promised changes to ease tensions.
Despite his efforts, the anger among unions and ordinary citizens remains strong, especially concerning a draft budget aimed at saving 44 billion euros.
A protester in Lyon, Bruno Cavalier, aged 64, carried a placard that read, “Smile, you are being taxed.”
He expressed the widespread sentiment: “The rich keep getting richer while the poor struggle more every day.”
The protests target austerity measures including the removal of lifelong benefits for former prime ministers and the controversial plan to eliminate two public holidays.
Authorities deployed over 80,000 police officers supported by drones, armored vehicles, and water cannons to maintain order.
Estimates from the interior ministry suggested that between 600,000 and 900,000 people would participate nationwide.
By midday, around 76,500 had joined the protests, though the intensity was reportedly less than expected, according to Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.
Teachers and workers united in striking, with about one in six educators absent from schools and many pharmacies closed.
The Paris Metro suffered heavy delays, operating only three driverless lines normally.
Trade unions welcomed the large turnout. Sophie Binet, leader of the CGT union, said, “We have seen hundreds of demonstrations all over France, with thousands of strikes in many workplaces.”
In several cities, police used tear gas to break up unauthorized gatherings.
In Marseille, footage emerged showing a police officer kicking a protester, though officials claimed they faced aggressive crowds.
Clashes also injured a journalist and a police officer in Lyon during confrontations with masked protesters.
In Lille, union-led protests disrupted bus services early in the morning. Samuel Gaillard, a 58-year-old garbage collector, voiced his frustration:
“We want the government to see we are fed up with high taxes and struggling to get by.”
Even students joined in, with around 300 pupils blocking a school in Paris, carrying banners urging resistance against austerity.
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