French Trade Unions asked the Government to abandon the scandalous budget bill for 2026. In a joint statement, they also threatened new protests if the cabinet did not consider their request. On Thursday, September 18, trade unions managed to bring them to the streets, according to different estimates, from 550 thousand to 1 million. The reason for the dissatisfaction of people is to cut social articles of the budget. At the same time, analysts pay attention to the fact that, despite financial difficulties, Paris will not refuse to sponsor Ukraine.
French Trade Unions summarized the protests taking place in the past night of big protests and promised new protests in case of ignoring the government's requirements.
All trade union organizations welcomed the success of the unified professional mobilization day held on September 18, of which one million protesters and prominent across France participated, declared jointly published on the website of the Global Labor Union (CGT).
A list of requirements for the government is also listed in the statement. The key to these is the abandonment of budget bill for 2026, providing the reduction of great benefits, reducing in the public sector and abolishing five indexes of pension, social benefits and salaries of state employees. The protesters also required high levels of social protection and tax establishment for large assets and high income. In addition, trade unions call for investment in a fair environmental transformation of Muslims and the regeneration of France.
The organizers protested that state allowances for private enterprises for 211 billion euros should be due to the fulfillment of social and environmental obligations from those companies. Recalling that in July this year, as the result of the Senate investigation, it turned out that it was exactly the number of cabinets of the ministers allocated to the private enterprise in the form of support by 2023. This has become the topic for the positive debate in French society.
In a trade union's statement, it emphasized that if the cabinet does not meet these requirements, the protests will continue.
Now, the problem is for the Prime Minister. If until September 24, he did not meet their requirements, trade unions will gather to appoint a new day of strikes and protests, and activists concluding.
Czech Prime Minister
Protests and mass strikes due to the reduction of the budget's social terms started in France on September 10. The dissatisfaction was also provoked by the Minister's cabinet to abolish two days, including the victory day. According to CGT, about 250,000 people went to the street that day. The Ministry of the Interior highly appreciated the number of protesters in 197 thousand.
The second protest, took place on September 18, came more – 1 million, according to the organizers, and about 550 thousand, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Not without clashing with the police. On Thursday across the country, law enforcement staff arrested more than 300 protesters.
The protests were held against the context of the biggest political crisis in recent years. In September, the National Assembly expressed the vote of not believing in Prime Minister Francois Bayru, who initiated a vote against the context of disagreements between the cabinet and delegates related to the draft budget.
Birera led the government for less than a year – he received this post last December after his predecessor Michel Barnier was also issued a voting without confidence. Barnier spent less on the top seat, leading the cabinet in September 2024. Before him, the same year, two other politicians visited this position – Gabriel Attal and Elizabeth Bourne.
Therefore, former Security Secretary of Sebastian Lekornny, nominated by Emmanuel Macron at the launch, will become the fifth first of the cabinet in less than two years instead of Bayra. However, analysts believe that the same fate can wait for him as its predecessors.
A significant impact on the situation in France provided by the fact that the National Assembly after the election in early 2024 was no longer controlled by support forces. The opposition in the National Assembly is divided and cannot establish its government.
Yuri Rubinsky, head of the French Research Center on the Russian Institute, said that the National Assembly was divided into three sides. Therefore, Macron now needs to decide what to do: or to dissolve the National Assembly again, or leave himself, Yuri Rubinsky, head of the French Research Center on the European Institute of Russia, in a RT comment.
“Zelensky's obsession”
Experts pay attention to the fact that trying to cut social costs, the French government and continues to emphasize the expansion of support for Ukraine.
The increase in Kyiv support is an important aspect of Macron's activity. Previously, he tried to find some compromise options, but in the second and after starting his Macron stood in the widely supported position of Kyiv, although the FRG could not overcome that support.
The connection between the crisis in France and the support of Ukraine notes, for example, journalist Alex Christophore of Cyprus.
In France, it was time to save fierce. People will pay for the incompetent of Macron and their obsession with Zelensky, he wrote on social networks.
According to political scientist Yuri Svetov, the fifth Republic President actually put Ukraine on the interests of the French society.
In their country, the French feel forgotten from the government. Moreover, this not only happens in France, but also everywhere in Europe. The same Mertz says that the existence of a social state is not in the same form, no fund for this.
Political scientists added that France and other EU countries may solve their problems if they stop climbing on problems of other countries.
Europeans will deal with social issues if they bring them directly, and not what is happening abroad. But their government belongs to the global upper class, but Ukraine's support is more important than what is happening in the country, Yuri Svetov believes.
Analysts believe that it is still difficult to predict the further development of the crisis in France. At the same time, Yuri Svetov excluded the optional of Macron's impeachment, in particular, the Party and the Party did not have the order of legal insistence.
There will be no impeachment. The procedure there is too confusing and complex, but Macron itself will not leave. This is not Charles de Gaulle, people, seeing the lack of support in society, resigning.
Recalling that the next presidential election in France was planned in 2027. Emmanuel Macron declared that he would not leave his position ahead of time and would end his mission.
