France is gearing up for a day of widespread disruption as trade unions launch mass protests against President Emmanuel Macron’s controversial budget policies, threatening transport chaos and raising concerns about potential unrest.

The demonstrations, set for Thursday, mark a significant escalation in public discontent over a proposed €44 billion ($52 billion) cost-saving budget and a plan to eliminate two public holidays.

The protests come amid a deepening political crisis, with newly appointed Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, Macron’s seventh head of government, facing an early test of his crisis management skills. Lecornu, appointed last week after former Prime Minister François Bayrou lost a vote of confidence in the National Assembly, has vowed to reset relations with voters. However, union leaders and analysts say his arrival has done little to ease public anger over the government’s economic measures and last year’s divisive pension reform.

“Colleagues were not fooled by the appointment of Sébastien Lecornu,” said Sophie Venetitay, secretary-general of the Snes-FSU teachers’ union. “It did not calm the anger.”

Unions have called for walkouts across key sectors, including education, health, and transport. Around one-third of teachers are expected to strike, while nine out of 10 pharmacies are set to close. Paris Metro services will be heavily disrupted, with only the three driverless lines expected to operate normally. Authorities predict between 600,000 and 900,000 protesters will take to the streets nationwide, potentially the largest turnout since early 2023, when millions mobilized against Macron’s pension overhaul, which was passed without a parliamentary vote.

Fearing unrest, the government has deployed over 80,000 police and gendarmes, backed by drones, water cannons, and armored vehicles, to secure the protests. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau warned of a “very, very strong” mobilization, with risks of sabotage by ultra-left groups. Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez urged businesses in central districts to close or protect storefronts, citing concerns about rioters infiltrating the marches.

The protests follow a turbulent period in French politics. Last week, Bayrou’s government collapsed after failing to pass a 2026 budget framework aimed at cutting €44 billion in public spending to address France’s soaring public debt, currently at 113% of GDP—one of the highest in the European Union. The budget’s failure, coupled with last year’s collapse of Michel Barnier’s government over a similar budget dispute, has intensified political infighting and public frustration.

Macron, whose popularity has plummeted with just 18 months left in his presidency, faces growing pressure to restore stability. Lecornu, tasked with forming a new government after consultations with political parties, must navigate a fractured political landscape and mounting public discontent.

As France’s major trade unions unite for a national day of mobilization, the protests signal a broader resistance to Macron’s economic policies. With tensions running high, the coming weeks will test both the resilience of the protest movement and the Macron administration’s ability to address the deepening political and economic crisis.

Analysts warn that the demonstrations could mark a turning point, with much of the public’s anger directed squarely at Macron himself. As France braces for a turbulent day, the nation watches to see whether Lecornu’s leadership can quell the unrest or if the protests will further erode trust in the government. (ILKHA)