France braces for day of strikes as new prime minister faces budget plan protests

PARIS — Strikes and street demonstrations called by all major trade unions are expected Thursday across France, as new Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu engages with political opponents to map a path to curb the country’s deficit and debt. The mobilization comes as Lecornu takes office amid pressure to overturn budget measures proposed by his predecessor, which unions say would squeeze purchasing power for low-paid workers and the middle class. The protests reflect long-standing opposition to austerity efforts and remain deeply entangled with President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reform, which raised the minimum retirement age from 62 to 64.

Unions have urged Lecornu to abandon draft budget measures described by some as a continuation of austerity. In a joint statement issued before Lecornu’s appointment last week, unions called such measures “unprecedented brutality,” saying the previous government had chosen to make workers, those in precarious employment, retirees, and the sick pay the price. The controversy over pension reform remains a central element of the protests, with unions arguing any further changes threaten the purchasing power of those most affected.

Outgoing Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said Wednesday he expects “a very strong mobilization” in the streets. He announced that about 80,000 police and gendarmerie officers would be deployed across the country, warning of potential morning blockades, sabotage, and violence from small groups of ultraleftists intent on causing destruction. Retailleau urged workers to stay peaceful but acknowledged the risk of disruption as the protests unfold in major cities.

Disruptions are expected to affect multiple sectors, including public transportation, hospitals and schools. The national rail company SNCF said there would be “a few disruptions” on high-speed TGV services to France and across Europe, though most services would run. Regional rail lines, as well as the Paris metro and commuter networks, were slated to face more significant interruptions. In airports, only a few disruptions were anticipated as the main air-traffic controllers’ union postponed its strike pending the appointment of a new Cabinet.

The protests come on the heels of last week’s anti-government action, when streets across France were choked with smoke, barricades were lit, and tear gas filled the air as demonstrators denounced budget cuts and political upheaval. While the “Block Everything” campaign did not deliver its stated aim of total disruption, it paralyzed parts of daily life and created hundreds of flashpoints across the country, underscoring the depth of public discontent as Lecornu begins negotiations on the budget and reforms.

As Lecornu navigates his first weeks in office, analysts say the government faces a delicate balance: implement necessary fiscal consolidation while preserving public support and social cohesion amid growing discontent over cost-of-living pressures. The outcome of Thursday’s protests and the subsequent political talks will likely shape the trajectory of France’s fiscal strategy for the coming year.