French strike and school protests test budget plans
Public-sector unions sought a 6 per cent pay rise as separate student demonstrations over school conditions ended in clashes and hundreds of detentions.
Tens of thousands of public workers marched across France in a one-day strike over pay and planned budget cuts, two days before the government was due to unveil its draft budget. The unions estimated 300,000 participants nationwide; police put turnout in Paris at 30,000.
Unions are seeking a 6 per cent pay rise and oppose a proposed freeze on state employees’ base salaries in 2027. The government says the freeze would save €2 billion. Unions say successive freezes have cut workers’ purchasing power.
The Education Ministry said just over 11 per cent of teachers and school staff joined the strike. Firefighters and healthcare workers also marched.
Separately, student protests over timetables, class sizes, teacher shortages and overheated classrooms took place at more than 400 schools. Authorities reported 440 detentions, a preliminary tally, and said 10 students and staff and 48 law enforcement officials were injured.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said about two-thirds of those detained were believed to have been taken into police custody. The government condemned the violence, while Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said schools’ difficulties must be heard and addressed.
