Nearly 600,000 people took to the streets across France on Thursday, October 2, 2025, in a powerful show of opposition to proposed public spending cuts, according to figures released by the leftist CGT union. The protests, which spanned the nation, were a direct response to austerity measures planned for the 2026 state budget, and they underscored the deep political and economic turmoil facing President Emmanuel Macron’s administration as it prepares for a major government reshuffle.
The French interior ministry, however, offered a lower estimate, putting the number of demonstrators at 195,000. While the turnout was lower than the more than a million who marched two weeks prior—when schools shuttered and public transport ground to a halt—the message was clear: many French citizens are deeply worried about the direction of the country’s fiscal policy and its impact on the most vulnerable.
“You can feel that the country is changing,” declared Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a prominent hard-left leader, at a rally in Paris, according to AFP. “We do not know what will happen. But we know that this turmoil is there. Which way will it erupt?” His words captured the mood of uncertainty gripping France as the government faces mounting pressure from both the street and a fractured parliament.
President Macron, now with just 18 months left in his term, is navigating his lowest-ever popularity ratings. The political landscape has grown even more complicated since his gamble on snap elections last summer backfired, leaving parliament split into three rival blocs with no clear majority. This deadlock has made passing legislation—especially contentious budget measures—an uphill battle.
In early September, Macron appointed 39-year-old Sébastien Lecornu as his seventh prime minister, a move widely seen as an attempt to inject new energy into the government without broadening its political base. Lecornu, a close Macron ally and former defense minister, now faces the daunting task of building bridges across a divided parliament and restoring public confidence.
Lecornu’s immediate challenge is to assemble a new, smaller cabinet—one that reflects both the need for leaner government and the realities of parliamentary negotiation. According to sources cited by AFP, the new lineup is expected to be unveiled over the weekend of October 4-5, 2025. The prime minister’s team will shrink to around 20 to 25 ministers, down from the 35 who served under his predecessor, François Bayrou. An outgoing minister, speaking anonymously, explained, “There will be many departures and three or four arrivals.”
Several key figures are expected to retain their posts, including Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau—who has taken a hard line on illegal immigration—Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, Education Minister Elisabeth Borne, and Overseas Territories Minister Manuel Valls. The fate of Culture Minister Rachida Dati, who faces a corruption trial in 2026, remains uncertain, with speculation swirling about her possible departure.
One of the most significant changes on the horizon is the likely replacement of Economy Minister Eric Lombard, whose association with Bayrou’s aggressive austerity plan has made him a lightning rod for criticism. This move signals a possible shift in the government’s approach to balancing fiscal discipline with social equity.
Indeed, Lecornu’s survival as prime minister may hinge on his ability to negotiate a delicate compromise with the Socialist opposition. According to a report by financial daily Les Echos, Lecornu is proposing a new tax targeting individuals with annual incomes over €250,000—or €500,000 for couples—in a bid to win Socialist support for the 2026 budget. The proposed measures include renewing a one-off tax, first introduced in 2024, that ensures high earners pay at least 20% of their income in taxes. Additionally, the government aims to crack down on the super-wealthy’s use of holding companies to avoid dividend taxes, targeting some 30,000 financial structures identified by the finance ministry.
The holding company measure alone is expected to yield just over €1 billion in 2026, while the combined package of tax reforms could bring in between €4 billion and €4.5 billion in additional revenue from the wealthiest individuals, Les Echos reported. The finance ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but the urgency of the negotiations is clear.
For the Socialists, however, these proposals may not go far enough. They are demanding a 2% wealth tax on the top 0.01% of wealth holders as the price for their support. Raphael Glucksmann, a leading Socialist Party member, told BFM television on October 4, “If (Mr Lecornu) is prepared to pursue a policy that... moves in the direction of greater fiscal justice, we will not (vote against his government).” It’s a stance that reflects strong public support for taxing the rich, but it’s also one that risks alienating conservatives who see such measures as punitive.
Lecornu’s efforts to court both the far-right National Rally and the Socialists highlight the precariousness of his position. On Friday, October 3, he was scheduled to meet with leaders of both parties to negotiate support for the budget. The Socialists, now a key swing group in parliament, have threatened to withhold their backing if austerity measures are not tempered by policies that promote “fiscal justice.”
Meanwhile, the broader context cannot be ignored. France’s public debt has ballooned after years of overspending, and authorities are under pressure to rein it in. Yet, critics argue that the proposed spending cuts would disproportionately affect the poorest, exacerbating inequality at a time when many are already struggling with the rising cost of living. The government’s plan for a smaller, more efficient cabinet is intended to signal fiscal responsibility, but whether it will be enough to restore public trust remains to be seen.
Adding to the uncertainty is the question of who will succeed Lecornu as defense minister, with several names—including outgoing labor and health minister Catherine Vautrin—being floated as possibilities. The final cabinet lineup, expected by Sunday evening at the latest, will offer the clearest indication yet of the administration’s direction as it seeks to navigate a path through political gridlock and social unrest.
As France heads into a critical weekend, the stakes could hardly be higher. The outcome of the budget negotiations and the government reshuffle will shape not only the country’s fiscal policy but also its political future. For now, the only certainty is that the turbulence rocking France is far from over.
