Hundreds of Thousands March Across France as Unions Stage General Strike Over Cost of Living
Teachers, hospital staff, rail workers and students joined nationwide demonstrations Thursday. Government and union turnout estimates differed sharply.
Hundreds of thousands of people marched across France on Thursday as trade unions staged a general strike over living costs, public spending cuts and conditions in schools and hospitals.
Teachers, hospital staff and rail workers joined high school and university students in Paris and other cities. The government estimated turnout at at least 600,000, while the CGT union put it near 1.6 million. Those are separate estimates, not a confirmed count.
Authorities deployed about 70,000 police officers. Most demonstrations were peaceful, although riot police used tear gas during confrontations in Bordeaux and Lyon. The Eiffel Tower closed amid the strike.
The protests came as the government sought to pass a tighter budget through a divided parliament. Rail unions argued that proposed cuts would put further pressure on social services, public-sector pay and investment.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced a meeting with trade unions and business leaders for the following Monday to discuss wages and the cost of living. Students have been protesting for weeks over overcrowded classes and poor school buildings, alongside workers seeking better pay and public services.