2024–2025 French political crisis Between 500,000, according to French authorities, and one million people, according to the unions, manifest or participate in labour...

Massive anti-austerity protests and labour strikes were held across France on Thursday, in a show of anger over President Emmanuel Macron's austerity policies. Organisers said one million people took….

Massive anti-austerity protests and labour strikes were held across France on Thursday, in a show of anger over President Emmanuel Macron's austerity policies.

Organisers said one million people took part in the strikes and protests, while the French authorities estimated that there were 500,000 protesters.

Hundreds of thousands took part in anti-austerity protests across France on Thursday, urging President Emmanuel Macron and his new Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu to acknowledge their anger and scrap looming budget cuts.

Teachers, train drivers, pharmacists and hospital staff were among those who went on strike as part of the day of protests, while teenagers blocked dozens of high schools for hours.

Protesters and unions called for the previous government's fiscal plans to be scrapped, for more spending on public services, higher taxes on the wealthy and for the reversal of an unpopular change making people work longer to get a pension.

"The anger is immense, and so is the determination.

Lecornu today is this: it's the streets that must decide the budget," said Sophie Binet, head of the CGT union.

The CGT said 1 million people took part in the strikes and protests.

Authorities estimated the number of protesters at about half that number.

There were some clashes on the margins of the rallies but the level of violence was not as high as Interior minister Bruno Retailleau had feared.

"I would like to emphasise that in almost all cases, marches and demonstrations took place under favourable conditions," he said during a briefing held shortly after the end of the Paris rally.

Macron's new prime minister is scrambling to put together a budget for next year, as well as a new government.

The political importance lies in whether the issue moves from public comment into formal action, party response, court record, election authority notice or administrative decision.

For public institutions and political groups, the next test is whether the issue remains a public argument or turns into a formal response, legal proceeding, administrative instruction or election-related communication.

The source page records the update at 19 Sep 2025, 02:34 AM, and the story should be followed for any later corrections or clarifications.