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Sustained Industrial Action in France as Union Pressure Mounts on New Government's Fiscal Plan Paris, France – France's major trade union confederations have staged a new, coordinated day of strikes and street protests, ramping up pressure on the nascent government of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu amidst a continuing period of political uncertainty in the capital. The widespread industrial action is primarily aimed at compelling the government to revise planned budget cuts and to consider introducing a tax on the nation’s wealthiest citizens. The latest demonstrations saw tens of thousands of workers take to the streets in cities across the country, with organisers estimating participation significantly higher than official police counts. Led by the powerful General Confederation of Labour (CGT) and supported by education sector unions like FSU-SNUipp, the action highlights deepening societal concerns over fiscal policy and social equity, particularly as the new Prime Minister navigates an unprecedented delay in forming a full government cabinet. Union leaders argue that the government’s proposals for spending cuts disproportionately affect public services and low-income workers, failing to address the nation's soaring budget deficit through progressive taxation. The specific demands underpinning the mobilisation are two-fold: an immediate request to suspend or completely rethink President Emmanuel Macron’s controversial 2023 pension reforms, and a call for the introduction of a new form of wealth tax on the super-rich. This mirrors a proposal put forward by prominent economists, which would target the top 0.
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01% of wealth holders, a measure that Prime Minister Lecornu has already publicly ruled out for the 2026 budget. The political backdrop against which this strike action is unfolding is one of significant instability. Mr Lecornu, appointed following the recent government collapse, has faced criticism for the prolonged delay in announcing his ministerial team. This political vacuum, coupled with major fiscal debates, has empowered trade unions to seize the initiative. The latest movement follows a much larger, nationwide general strike held just two weeks prior, which saw hundreds of thousands of people protesting over similar issues of tax and social justice. Speaking to reporters during the protests, Aurélie Gagnier, co-general secretary of the FSU-SNUipp education union, commented on the unique challenges facing activists. "The lack of political clarity is undeniable," she stated, adding, "While some may see this uncertainty as a deterrent, for others, it is precisely the moment to demand structural change before the new administration cements policies that will harm public services for years to come.
" The unions maintain that the austerity measures, required to address a budget deficit that has swelled in recent years, must be counterbalanced by measures ensuring ‘fiscal fairness’. They point to rising corporate profits and the effects of inflation on real wages as justification for immediate intervention through wealth taxation. Dr. Eleanor Voss, a political economy analyst at the European Policy Institute, suggested that the synchronisation of political and industrial crises presents a formidable challenge for the executive. "The French executive is currently fighting battles on two fronts: negotiating political alliances to confirm a functional government, while simultaneously dealing with highly motivated unions demanding policy reversals," Dr. Voss explained. "The key for the new administration will be to find a mechanism—be it dialogue or targeted fiscal concession—to defuse this social pressure without undermining the financial credibility they are trying to establish with the new budget.
" The immediate impact of the strike has primarily involved disruptions to education and certain public administration services, with significant travel disruption appearing to be less severe than in previous actions. However, the true significance lies not in the immediate inconvenience, but in the sustained signalling of popular dissent against the government’s core economic orientation. If the new administration pushes ahead with its proposed budget without significant revision or a perceived move towards social justice measures, analysts predict that the confrontation with the trade union movement is likely to escalate further. The focus now shifts to the Elysee Palace, where President Macron and Prime Minister Lecornu are expected to finalise the cabinet list, a move critical to restoring parliamentary and institutional legitimacy. Once formed, the government will face the immediate task of presenting its full 2026 budget proposal to the National Assembly, a document that will serve as the ultimate flashpoint for trade union response and, potentially, further industrial unrest. Union leaders have already pledged to scrutinise every detail, ensuring the current action serves as a foundational step for future mobilisation should their demands for greater equity be ignored.
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