France Braces for Nationwide Strikes: 70,000 Police Deployed as Unions Test Macron

Hundreds of thousands of people marched across France on Thursday as trade unions staged a nationwide strike over wages, pensions and public services — the latest test for President Emmanuel Macron after weeks of unrest, and five months before a presidential election.

Authorities deployed about 70,000 police and gendarmes nationwide, with armoured vehicles, drones and helicopters on standby. The domestic intelligence service expected between 500,000 and 700,000 people to demonstrate outside Paris, with 40,000 to 80,000 more in the capital, according to reports from AFP and BFM TV.

What the unions want

The mobilisation was called by France's main unions, including the left-wing CGT, and backed by student groups. Their demands are higher wages and pensions, more money for public services, and a different state and social security budget. In a joint statement, the unions warned that the country is on the brink of recession and that layoff plans are multiplying: "Fuel, food products, rent, gas, electricity … everything's going up except wages and pensions."

The movement grew from a protest over staff shortages at one high school south-east of Paris in September, then spread nationwide as students demanded better education conditions. It has since broadened into a general challenge to the government, drawing in hospital staff, teachers, rail workers, postal workers, air traffic controllers and dock workers.

How Thursday unfolded

Rail unions called a 24-hour strike, and the national rail operator SNCF warned of disruption to regional services and some trains in the greater Paris area. The Education Ministry said 17.5% of public primary school teachers were expected to strike. State-owned utility EDF said electricity workers' unions would join the action, and the strike had already cut French nuclear output by 2.4 gigawatts early on Thursday.

Macron convened a defence and security meeting on Wednesday to prepare, underlining how seriously the government takes the day. Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon said authorities were on high alert after riots and looting on 17 October damaged shops and public buildings — unrest that caught security forces off guard and fuelled criticism of Macron's handling of the crisis. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez promised a very firm response to any violence.

Why this strike matters more than most

The timing is what makes this mobilisation dangerous for the government. Macron is trying to pass a belt-tightening budget through a parliament where he lacks a comfortable majority, while weekly protests over the cost of living continue. His final months in office are being shaped by these crises, and the presidential election due next spring is already casting a shadow: the far-right candidate Marine Le Pen is polling strongly for the vote to replace him.

Turnout figures from police and unions were expected later on Thursday, and they will be read as a verdict on the movement's strength. A large, peaceful turnout would show the unions can still bring France to a standstill; a low one would let the government claim the momentum is fading. Either way, with the budget fight still ahead and the election clock ticking, this is unlikely to be the last day of action.

Sources: The Week (AP), TimesLIVE. Internal: Joshua Wong Gets 10 More Years in Prison — Just Months Before He Was Due to Walk Free.