In a powerful display of public frustration, an estimated 800,000 people participated in a nationwide strike across France, with around 15,000 gathering in Marseille to protest worsening economic conditions and government austerity measures. The walkout, organized by eight major unions, targeted former Prime Minister François Bayrou’s 2026 budget plan, which proposed eliminating two public holidays and reducing public sector employment to address the country’s fiscal deficit. The backlash contributed to the collapse of Bayrou’s government following a failed confidence vote on September 8, leading President Emmanuel Macron to appoint Sébastien Lecornu as the new prime minister.
Despite the leadership change, unrest continued. On September 10, approximately 200,000 individuals joined the “Block Everything” movement to voice opposition to Macron’s policies. Union leaders, including Boris Plazzi of the CGT, emphasized widespread anger over what they described as efforts to exploit workers, pensioners, and those in unstable jobs. Protesters demanded wage and pension adjustments to match inflation, preservation of public sector roles, a reduction in the retirement age from 64 to 62, and increased taxation on high-income earners.
Sectors heavily impacted included education, rail transport, healthcare, and pharmaceuticals, with about 90% of schools and pharmacies closed and rail services disrupted. However, some areas like Marseille’s central train station saw minimal disruption. High school students erected barricades using furniture and debris, symbolizing resistance, while Palestinian flags and revolutionary slogans appeared at protest sites.
Healthcare professionals also voiced grievances. Félix Faber, head of the FFMKR13 union for physical therapists, explained that a salary increase of just over one euro per procedure—anticipated for July 1—was delayed until January 2026 due to exceeded national health spending targets. With average session fees stuck at 17 euros ($20), many practitioners say they can no longer sustain their livelihoods amid rising costs.
Macron’s approval rating has dipped to roughly 15%, reflecting growing dissatisfaction with his reliance on established political figures. Critics argue that the current leadership is disconnected from everyday realities. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the far-left France Unbowed party, joined the Marseille demonstration, calling the president a source of chaos and demanding his resignation. Chants of “Macron Démission” echoed throughout the protest, underscoring the depth of public discontent.
— news from Courthouse News Service
— News Original —
Massive French strike exposes deep anger with Macron’s handling of economic woes
MARSEILLE, France (CN) — Waves of people marched down Marseille’s central Canebière Avenue Thursday morning as if being carried by an invisible current. They were heading toward the city’s Old Port along with an estimated 15,000 others to demand better working conditions amid mounting frustrations with France’s government. n nOfficials estimated 800,000 people took part nationwide. n n“We’re tired of everyone taking advantage of workers,” Cecil Theverie, a member of the biggest workers union in the country, told Courthouse News from the port. “We want to be heard by the new prime minister in his government and with his budget — if he’s wants to last, he doesn’t have a choice, actually.” n nIn the beginning of the month, eight unions called for Thursday’s general strike to protest former Prime Minister François Bayrou’s 2026 budget proposal, which included scrapping two public holidays and cutting public sector jobs as part of efforts to reel in the nation ‘s deficit. n nAnger over the cuts ultimately brought down his government after a confidence vote on Sept. 8, prompting French President Emmanuel Macron to swiftly appoint right-wing loyalist Sébastien Lecornu as his replacement. n nBut the power shift didn ‘t stop social unrest. Before Thursday ‘s strike, on Sept. 10 roughly 200,000 people participated in the “Block Everything” movement to express anger against Macron. n n“We met at the end of August, the eight French unions, and we all agreed that there was widespread anger among workers in the country, a great deal of anger against the government and particularly against the budget that was presented in July,” Boris Plazzi, the confederal secretary of the CGT workers union, told Courthouse News. “We cannot allow the government to, as we say in French, pick the pockets of workers, those in precarious employment situations and pensioners — we must take action.” n nAmandine Isoardi, a member of the FO13 workers union, told Courthouse News alongside Marseille’s Old Port, “There are salaries that aren’t moving. We’re here to defend our rights amid this change in government with the new prime minister.” n nTeachers, railway workers, pharmacists and physical therapists were among the largest groups taking part; an estimated 90% of schools and pharmacies were closed and rail traffic was disrupted, though less than expected. n nIn Marseille, trains were running on time from the central Gare Saint-Charles, the station wasn’t crowded, and one man told Courthouse News that he experienced no disruption. Roughly one mile down the road, high schoolers from the central Lycée Thiers built a physical blockade of trash bins, mattresses and fences to block the door of the school, where a Palestinian flag was hanging overhead. “Revolution” was scribbled on one mattress in red spray paint. n nPlazzi said the unions are looking for a “radical change in policy” and are calling for a few priority measures. The group wants salaries and pensions to reflect rising inflation, public sector jobs to be secured, and the retirement age to be rolled back to 62 from 64. The union is calling for higher taxes on the wealthy. n nFélix Faber, president of the FFMKR13 union of masseuses and physical therapists, told Courthouse News that when the national target for health insurance spending was exceeded in June, planned salary increases for health care professionals were frozen. n n“The consequence was that the salary increases we were expecting for July 1 were postponed, at best, until Jan. 1, 2026,” he told Courthouse News. “This was the first major salary increase we had been anticipating in over 10 years, and it involved an increase of just over 1 euro per procedure.” n nHe said physical therapy fees remain low despite rising inflation; an average 30-minute session costs 17 euros ($20). n n“The fees for these procedures are very low and have barely increased in line with economic conditions and inflation,” he said. “Consequently, physiotherapists simply can ‘t make a living from these services anymore.” n nMuch of the anger is being directed at Macron himself. On the port, numerous signs read “Macron Démission,” or “Macron Resign,” a common chant during demonstrations. One woman’s sign said “Error System Reboot; these reboots are made for walking.” n nJean-Luc Mélenchon, the extreme-left leader of France Unbowed, joined the protest in Marseille. This bolstered arguments that the party is trying to appropriate recent demonstrations, which arose from social media without a clear leader. He told reporters “The president is chaos, and everything that has happened at the moment is the result of his actions, not mine,” and called for the “departure of the president of the republic.” n nMacron’s approval rating is at an all-time-low at roughly 15%. n n“The problem we ‘ve had for some time with Macron is that he tends to put old politicians back in power,” Faber said. “The French are fed up with this political class that has lived solely off politics, who have never had a job outside of politics, and the French want to see people who are closer to the ground and the realities we face.” n nFollow @lilyradz