France is once again at the epicenter of political turbulence, with fresh protests, a government shake-up, and contentious new tax proposals stirring debate across the country. Just days after the collapse of Prime Minister François Bayrou’s government on October 1, 2025, President Emmanuel Macron moved swiftly to appoint Sébastien Lecornu as his new prime minister, marking the fifth such appointment in just two years, according to Reuters and Les Echos. Yet, the rapid change at the top has done little to quell the unrest simmering on the streets and in the halls of power.
The immediate aftermath of Bayrou’s resignation saw grassroots groups mobilizing for a nationwide “Block Everything” protest, set for Wednesday, October 8, 2025. The movement aims to paralyze daily life across France, targeting transport, schools, and other essential services. Calls for action have spread like wildfire through Telegram channels and social media, with no central leadership to negotiate or even clarify the protest’s true scope. Organizers are urging supporters to blockade Paris’ ring road—Europe’s busiest urban motorway, with 1.2 million vehicles daily—and even contemplate sabotage at metro and train stations. Some have floated more symbolic acts, like covering far-right newspapers with left-wing ones at newsstands, as reported by Euronews.
In a bid to maintain order, the government is deploying 80,000 police officers, bracing for as many as 100,000 protesters. The scale of the security response underscores the gravity of the situation, which many compare to the 2018 Yellow Vests revolt. Yet, as Euronews notes, “Block Everything” is less structured, having emerged only in the summer of 2025, making it even more unpredictable.
Public frustration is running high, fueled by austerity measures and the perception that the wealthy and big corporations are escaping their fair share of the tax burden. According to an Ipsos poll cited by Euronews, 46% of French people support the protest movement, with the highest backing among left-wing sympathizers but also extending to more than half of far-right National Rally voters. The anger is palpable across professional sectors as well. Healthcare workers and pharmacists are planning a nationwide shutdown on September 18, 2025, to protest cuts to medical reimbursements and discounts on generic drugs.
Carine, a pharmacist preparing to strike, expressed the stakes in stark terms: “There are around 20,000 pharmacies in France, and at least 6,000 could close due to these measures. That means whole communities are losing local access to medicine. The government is ignoring the reality of our profession,” she told Euronews.
For many, Wednesday’s protest is less about immediate change and more about sending a warning to those in power. Thomas, a university student who plans to participate, put it bluntly: “I think it’s time for Macron and politicians to understand we are serious. We are angry with the political system and the fact that the ultra-rich and corporations are not paying enough taxes. Meanwhile, we’re the ones being asked to make an effort and to work more.”
On the streets of Paris, uncertainty reigns. Some, like Jaela, a French-Australian student, are bracing for the possibility of snap elections. “If there’s an election, I will vote, for sure. But I’m hoping the politicians will find some sort of compromise,” she said. Jean, a retired headmaster, echoed a sense of disillusionment: “I will definitely go and vote. But for whom? That’s a question I’d like to explore further. Certainly not for the far-right.” He added, “We are witnessing widespread hatred for the president. Suddenly, many people have started to hate this man. I don’t know exactly why.”
Against this backdrop of unrest, Prime Minister Lecornu is racing to secure support for the government’s 2026 budget. According to Les Echos and Reuters, Lecornu outlined plans on October 3 for a new tax targeting individuals with annual incomes over €250,000 (approximately S$380,000). The aim? To win over the Socialist opposition, whose support is crucial in a fragmented parliament divided into three blocs, none of which holds a majority.
The proposed measures are twofold: first, to renew a one-off tax introduced by Bayrou in 2024, ensuring all high-earning households pay at least 20% of their income in taxes. Second, the government plans to crack down on the super-wealthy’s use of holding companies to avoid dividend taxes—a tactic that, according to the Finance Ministry, involves some 30,000 financial structures. The crackdown is expected to yield just over €1 billion in 2026, while the total additional contribution from the wealthiest individuals could reach between €4 billion and €4.5 billion, as reported by Les Echos.
Socialist lawmakers, however, are demanding more. They want a 2% wealth tax on the richest 0.01% of French citizens as the price for their support, calling Lecornu’s current proposals “insufficient” but leaving the door open for further negotiations. Raphael Glucksmann, a prominent Socialist Party member, told BFM television, “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).”
The political stakes could hardly be higher. Lecornu’s survival as prime minister hinges on passing the budget, and with parliament so divided, he must negotiate with rival parties at every turn. The Socialists, emboldened by strong public support for taxing the rich, are leveraging their influence, while conservatives remain wary of measures that could alienate their base.
For many ordinary French citizens, the political wrangling feels remote compared to the immediate pressures of daily life. Gérard, a Paris butcher, summed up the mood of reluctant resignation: “I believe most of us are ready to make an effort and to work more. We need to wake up because the economic indicators are bad. We don’t have a choice at this point.”
Meanwhile, the threat of further unrest looms. Two major unions, CGT and SUD, are backing the “Block Everything” protests, and broader strike calls are set for September 18. With anger spreading across healthcare, pharmacy, and other professional sectors, the coming weeks promise more turmoil unless a political compromise can be reached.
As France faces a pivotal moment, its leaders must balance the demands of fiscal responsibility, social justice, and public order. The choices made in the next weeks will not only shape the 2026 budget but could determine the country’s political trajectory for years to come.
