Paris: Thousands of French protests on Thursday to show anger at Emmanuel Macron’s austerity policies that undermined much of the country’s public life.
The protests were held on a national call by the trade union, with public transportation stagnant, schools closed, people taking to the streets to participate in demonstrations of sporadic clashes and police sales.
A trade union left CGT said more than one million people nationwide participated in the demonstrations. French authorities usually have lower numbers than unions, and he said the country has 55,000 people held in Paris.
Macron 7th head Since 2017, the government has vowed to cut serious political crises after taking office last week, vowing to cut serious political crises. But the appointment of the former Defense Secretary, 39, and Mississippi allies failed to calm the anger of the union and many French people.
Protesters complain about the growing gap between ordinary people and elites
Many protesters targeted Macron, who had only 18 months left to take power and continued his worst speech. Some slogans urged him to resign, and protesters in the southern city of Nice threw Macron’s statue into the air. Sophie Larchet, 60, said she protested in Paris due to Macron. “We’ve had enough, he’s tormenting France,” she said.
Herve Renard, 57, pointed to former French emperor Sars: “Macron-Napoleon does not listen to anyone.” Many people complained about the growing gap between ordinary people and elites, saying a series of austerity measures proposed by the government will hit the poorest and most difficult.
“Every day the richest people are richer, the poor get their favorites,” said SARS Bruno Cavalier, 64, of Lyon, France’s third largest city. He read “Smile, you’re levying taxes” with a placard.
“Thousands or strikes”
Protesters are angry at the draft budget for Lecornu’s Francois Bayrou, who proposed a series of measures that he said would save 44 billion euros ($5.2 billion).
Lecornu tried to calm his anger by promising the abolition of the former prime minister’s lifelong privilege and to halt a widely abominable plan to abolish two public holidays.
More than 80,000 police officers have been deployed, supported by drones, armored vehicles and water cannons. More than 180 people have been detained.
The union called for a strike in a rare solidarity, with about one in six primary and middle school teachers walking out, while nine out of nine out of ten pharmacies were closed. Citizens face serious drawbacks on the Paris Metro where only three autonomous driving automatic lines work properly. The union said they were satisfied with the scale of the protests.
“We recorded 260 demonstrations in France,” said Sophie Binet, head of the CGT alliance. “There are thousands of strikes in all the workplaces.”
‘fed up’
Police use in Paris and Marseille Tears gas Disperse as early as possible, unauthorized demonstrations. In Marseille, a AFPTV The reporter filmed a policeman kicking a protester on the ground, and police said they encountered “hostile” protesters.
Posted in Dawn on September 19, 2025
