France Faces Nationwide Strike as Unrest Spreads

France faced widespread disruption on Thursday as trade unions organized a nationwide strike and demonstrations against rising living costs and proposed government budget cuts. Public and private sector employees joined the action, threatening transport, healthcare, education and other essential services amid weeks of escalating protests.

More than 220 demonstrations and gatherings were expected nationwide, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. Authorities planned to deploy 70,000 police officers, matching the security presence used during demonstrations over the previous two weekends.

The strike also reflects growing solidarity between organized labor and students who have protested against deteriorating education conditions. Their demonstrations have brought hundreds of thousands of people into the streets over the previous three Saturdays.

Nuñez warned that authorities had identified potential attempts to intensify the unrest.

"There are clear attempts to make the situation escalate," said Nuñez, France's interior minister.

He said the government had prepared a substantial security operation to prevent demonstrations from turning violent.

"And so, the police deployment will respond accordingly, with the constant objective of ensuring that the marches proceed properly, and that there are no abuses, no violence, and no looting," Nuñez said.

Rail services were among the sectors expected to experience significant disruption. France's national railway operator, SNCF, announced interruptions on regional routes and sections of the greater Paris network. Dockworkers also anticipated disruptions at French ports.

The four main rail unions criticized the government's proposed financial measures, arguing that they would disproportionately affect workers and public services.

"Worsen poverty, slash social security, freeze state workers' salaries and dry up investment needed for environmental measures," the unions said in a statement describing the expected consequences of the budget proposals.

Healthcare employees, air traffic controllers, postal workers and teachers were also expected to participate. The Education Ministry estimated that almost 18% of nursery and primary school teachers would strike, while unions anticipated participation from secondary school teachers.

Students continued blocking high schools over overcrowded classrooms and deteriorating school buildings. University students also joined demonstrations by blockading several faculties. Student representatives considered the government's proposed classroom-size limits and financial assistance for regional school repairs insufficient.

Concerns about government restrictions on demonstrations have added another dimension to the unrest. The French Human Rights League criticized what it described as increasingly restrictive policing and limits on public gatherings.

The organization described the government's approach as an "authoritarian shift" aimed at suppressing "any dissenting voice" amid restrictions on demonstrations in city centers and curfews in certain areas.

Sophie Binet, leader of the left-wing CGT union, also criticized the government's response and restrictions imposed on demonstrations in several cities.

"We're living at a very serious time with a very dangerous authoritarian drift from the government," Binet said.

Authorities in Rennes, Toulouse and Lyon had faced criticism for moving demonstrations away from central areas. Marylise Léon, head of the moderate CFDT trade union, emphasized the importance of public visibility for organized protests.

"The principle of a demonstration is its visibility," Léon said.

The unrest comes as President Emmanuel Macron approaches the final months of his presidency. His government is struggling to secure approval for a spending-reduction budget in a divided parliament, while France's public debt approaches 120% of economic output.

Meanwhile, Marine Le Pen, the far-right, anti-immigration political candidate, has maintained strong polling figures ahead of the 2027 presidential election scheduled for next spring.