ISLAMABAD: More than one million people poured into the streets across France on Thursday, staging some of the largest protests in recent years against a controversial budget plan introduced by former Prime Minister François Bayrou. The demonstrations, led by powerful trade unions, paralyzed multiple sectors and sparked clashes in Paris, where police arrested more than 300 people.
France’s Interior Ministry confirmed injuries to seven law enforcement officers, 10 demonstrators, and one journalist.
BFM TV reported that French police has so far arrested 309 people, including 134 placed in custody, BFM TV broadcaster reported on Friday.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has strongly condemned the “abuses” targeting police and the “damage perpetrated” during the protests.
Strikes and protests are disrupting various sectors, including pharmaceuticals and education. The Federation of Pharmaceutical Unions of France (FSPF) reported that 20,000 pharmacists are “in the streets,” while the Student Union syndicate stated that 110,000 students had been mobilised.
In areas outside Paris, the Interior Ministry counted 282,500 demonstrators. Although the Paris protest began peacefully, tensions escalated near Boulevard Voltaire, where police reported “an attempt to damage a business.” Officers came under attack from stones and bottles, leading to the use of tear gas and arrests.
French trade unions
Some 35,000 gendarmes have been deployed, and outgoing Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said that blockades “were less intense than expected for the first part of the day.”
The protests, organised by major French trade unions, are in response to contentious budget proposals introduced by former Prime Minister François Bayrou.
Retailleau warned on Wednesday of a “very, very strong” mobilisation across several sectors, including public services, transport, agriculture, education, and entertainment.
Block Everything protest
To maintain order, the Interior Ministry deployed over 80,000 police and gendarmes, as well as drones, water cannons, and 24 Centaure armoured vehicles—a move not seen since the Yellow Vest movement.
Roughly 40 union-led marches were planned nationwide, with expectations of up to 800,000 participants. The current mobilisation follows last week’s “Block Everything” protest, which drew 197,000 people.
Tensions are rising after Bayrou lost a no-confidence vote on 8 September. His proposed €44 billion budget aimed to tackle France’s debt, now at 113% of GDP. President Emmanuel Macron has since appointed Sébastien Lecornu as the new prime minister.
