Mass Strikes in France Over Budget Cuts

 

• On September 18, 2025, large-scale strikes and demonstrations swept across France, aimed at opposing proposed austerity measures and cuts in public spending. Reuters+5The Guardian+5The Guardian+5

• The protests are largely organized by major trade unions (CGT, CFDT, etc.) and backed by grassroots movements. Reuters+5Reuters+5The Guardian+5

• The immediate target is the 2026 national budget proposed by the previous government under François Bayrou, which includes cuts totaling around €43.8 billion in public spending. El País+6Wikipedia+6Wikipedia+6

• The protests come in the context of the “Bloquons tout” (“Let’s block everything”) movement, a more loosely organized call for general shutdown and resistance to austerity, which had earlier mobilized actions across France. Wikipedia