Paris: More than 1 million people participated in nationwide protests in France, with at least 181 individuals arrested, as reported by the French trade union CGT. The demonstrations, which spanned multiple cities, were organized in opposition to controversial budget proposals and affected various sectors, including pharmaceuticals and education.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Interior Ministry disclosed that seven law enforcement officers, ten protesters, and a journalist sustained injuries during the demonstrations. The protests have seen participation from 20,000 pharmacists, as reported by the Federation of Pharmaceutical Unions of France, and 110,000 high school and university students, according to the Student Union syndicate. An estimated 282,500 demonstrators marched in regions outside of Paris.
The initially peaceful protests in Paris turned tense near Boulevard Voltaire, where police reported attempts to damage a business. The situation escalated with protesters throwing stones and bottles at the police, leading to the use of tear gas grenades and arrests. Approximately 35,000 departmental gendarmes have been deployed to manage the situation.
Outgoing Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau noted that blockades were less intense than anticipated earlier in the day. The protests were organized by major French trade unions in response to budget proposals introduced by former Prime Minister Francois Bayrou. Retailleau had anticipated significant mobilization across multiple sectors, including public services, education, transport, agriculture, industry, and entertainment.
In preparation for the protests, the Interior Ministry announced the deployment of over 80,000 police officers and gendarmes nationwide, supported by armored vehicles, drones, and water cannons. This level of security mobilization has not been seen since the Yellow Vest protests, with 24 Centaure armored vehicles and around ten water-launching devices being deployed across the country.
Approximately 40 union marches were planned nationwide, with preliminary estimates indicating participation from up to 800,000 demonstrators. The action follows the 'Block Everything' mobilization last week, which attracted nearly 197,000 participants across the country.
The protests are rooted in broader political tensions, as former Prime Minister Bayrou lost a confidence vote in the National Assembly on September 8. Bayrou's budget framework aimed to save nearly £44 billion ($51 billion) to address France's significant public debt, which currently stands at 113% of its GDP. French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu as the new prime minister, tasked with initiating consultations with political parties to form a new government.
France's budget negotiations have historically been contentious, with the country's budget deficit reaching 5.8% of GDP, one of the largest in the EU. The inability to agree on the 2025 budget led to the collapse of the Michel Barnier government in December, following a united no-confidence motion from left-wing and far-right parties.