Work Stoppages Cripple Key Services
September 18, 2025, saw France brought to a near standstill as unions staged strikes in defiance of the government’s budget reductions. Public transit networks ran on skeleton schedules, schools canceled lessons, and pharmacies limited operations as employees joined mass walkouts. Union representatives estimated hundreds of thousands of people participated nationwide.
Capital Sees Clashes Amid Peaceful Marches Elsewhere
Major processions took place in Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, and Montpellier, but Paris became the epicenter of unrest. While many protesters marched peacefully, groups in the capital turned confrontational, vandalizing banks and engaging in scuffles with police. Authorities deployed a heavy security presence across the country to manage the demonstrations.
Government Confronts Rising Opposition
By evening, officials confirmed 141 arrests, largely in Paris following clashes with police. The protests increase pressure on Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, whose budget blueprint includes sweeping cuts and reforms. Critics argue the plan weakens France’s longstanding social protections, fueling demands for the government to abandon or drastically revise its austerity agenda.
