London, UK –2 October 2025
A massive wave of civil unrest swept across France on Thursday, 2 October, as at least 195,000 people took to the streets to passionately denounce planned government budget cuts. In a powerful resurgence of working-class resistance, the nationwide protests and strikes, coordinated by the country’s major trade unions, marked the third significant day of action this month against the government’s austerity measures and demands for fiscal justice.
Tens of Thousands March in Major Cities
The widespread demonstrations, involving workers, students, and pensioners, occurred in over 200 towns and cities throughout the country.
* Paris: The capital saw tens of thousands march, starting from Place d’Italie. The Interior Ministry reported approximately 24,000 participants in Paris, part of the national total of 195,000. In an act of solidarity, the iconic Eiffel Tower was closed to visitors due to the strikes .
* National Estimates: While the Interior Ministry cited the 195,000 figure, trade unions, including the hardline CGT, placed the national turnout much higher, claiming closer to 600,000 to one million participants, indicating the widespread anger at the government’s proposals.
* Disruption and Security: The strikes led to disruptions in key sectors such as transport, education, and healthcare. Regional train services faced delays, and some university campuses were shut down. Authorities, including outgoing Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, responded by deploying approximately 76,000 police officers nationwide to manage the protests.
The Catalyst: Austerity and Budget Cuts
The latest wave of strikes was a direct reaction to the government’s proposed austerity measures, which include deep public spending cuts in the forthcoming 2026 budget. The initial spark for the sustained unrest was the plan put forward by former Prime Minister François Bayrou to cut a substantial €44 billion ($52 billion) from public spending, primarily targeting vital sectors like local authorities, healthcare, and education.
Protester Demands:
* Reversal of Cuts: Scrap the austerity measures and social welfare freezes that critics argue disproportionately harm low- and middle-income workers.
* Fiscal Justice: Implement higher taxes on the wealthy, including calls for a 2% wealth tax on the richest 0.01%.
* Protect Public Services: Increase spending on public services and reverse the previous controversial hike to the retirement age.
Pressure Mounts on New PM Lecornu
The protests put immediate and intense pressure on the newly appointed Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, who is still working to form his cabinet following the ousting of his predecessor, François Bayrou. Union leaders have been clear that Lecornu’s promise of a “profound break” from the previous administration’s budget plans must be met with concrete action.
* Political Void: The continued demonstrations highlight the ongoing political void and heated budget negotiations in France, with the country’s deficit remaining a major concern for the European Union and financial markets.
* Union Vow: Sophie Binet, the head of the CGT union, stressed that half-measures would not placate the public anger, vowing to continue the fight for policies that ensure a fairer distribution of the nation’s financial burdens.
The strikes follow a series of actions, including the September 18 nationwide protest, where police estimates topped 500,000, underscoring the deep and persistent social anger over the direction of government policy. The standoff over the budget ensures that social unrest will remain a central fixture in French politics as the Prime Minister attempts to gather parliamentary support for a sustainable fiscal plan.
