France faces nationwide transport strikes as protests target Paris Metro

Protesters across France disrupted transport networks Thursday as nationwide strikes intensified, with demonstrations targeting the Paris Metro and other public services. Union leaders say the action is aimed at pressuring President Emmanuel Macron’s government over planned budget cuts and a pension reform that would raise the retirement age.

Protests began before dawn in Paris and spread to cities and towns nationwide, with clashes reported in several locations. Police carried out checks on demonstrators in Nantes as marches passed through the city; tear gas was reported in a road blockage in southeastern France. The national rail operator SNCF said a few disruptions were expected on high-speed trains to France and Europe, but most services would run, while regional lines and the Paris Metro faced heavier disruption as unions urged a broad strike across the system.

The government says the spending plan is needed to rein in France’s budget deficit and debt, and it has deployed about 80,000 police to maintain order on Thursday. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, appointed just last week, is seeking to build cross-party support in Parliament for budget measures that unions say would hit workers, retirees and other vulnerable groups. The pension reform proposal would raise the minimum retirement age from 62 to 64, a move that has been central to the government’s deficit-reduction strategy and a focal point of popular anger.

French unions and protesters have framed the day of action as the latest in a sustained campaign that began with labor strikes and economic protests against the government’s broader agenda. Last week’s nationwide action saw streets choked with smoke and temporary barricades, though organizers did not meet their own goal of total disruption. The movement, labeled the Block Everything campaign by organizers, illustrates the scale of opposition to cuts in public services and social protections on a country where many rely on public systems for daily life.

In airports, officials said disruptions would be limited as the main air-traffic controllers union postponed its strike pending the appointment of a new Cabinet. The government insists the measures are necessary to rein in a massive deficit and stabilize the economy, while unions vow to continue actions until talks progress toward dropping the budget cuts and pension changes.