France Shut Down for 24 Hours as 800,000 Protest Budget Cuts

France is preparing for one of the largest strikes in recent years on Thursday, with trade unions mobilizing workers, pensioners, and citizens to pressure Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to reconsider budget cuts. Nearly 800,000 people are expected to take to the streets, disrupting schools, public transport, and air travel.

The strike comes shortly after Lecornu, a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron, was appointed prime minister—the third in a year. While Lecornu has promised to implement reforms to reduce the national debt, unions fear that social welfare and other public spending may suffer under the new budget.

This protest is being described as the largest since the 2023 demonstrations, when Macron raised the pension age to 64 without parliamentary approval. Police have deployed 80,000 officers to manage the expected crowds.

France’s economic situation adds pressure to the government, with a budget deficit nearly double the EU limit and national debt reaching 114% of GDP. Fitch recently downgraded France’s credit rating, raising further concerns among investors amid political instability.