France is once again at the center of political and social turbulence, as tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets and the halls of power are gripped by gridlock. The latest chapter in this ongoing saga unfolded in early October 2025, when new Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu faced a daunting task: steering a fractured nation through contentious budget negotiations while under fire from both the left and right, and with the country’s president, Emmanuel Macron, at a record low in popularity.
On October 2, 2025, a massive wave of protests swept across France. According to Reuters, trade unions including the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) and the French Democratic Confederation of Labour (CFDT) organized marches in over 230 towns and cities, with the CGT claiming 600,000 participants. Police put the number closer to 195,000, but either way, the message was loud and clear: workers are fed up with years of austerity and the government’s plans for deep spending cuts in the 2026 budget.
The protests were not just a spontaneous outpouring of frustration. They were a calculated move by unions to keep pressure on President Macron and his newly appointed prime minister. Macron, who has cycled through five prime ministers in just two years, is now facing the most severe political crisis of his presidency. His approval rating has sunk to a dismal 17%, as reported by NPR, and his party no longer holds a parliamentary majority.
At the heart of the unrest is a national budget that, if not passed, could spell the end for Lecornu’s short tenure. The previous prime minister, Francois Bayrou, was ousted following a no-confidence vote after proposing nearly 38 billion euros in tax hikes and spending cuts—a plan that united both the left and right in opposition. Lecornu, who took office on September 10, 2025, was immediately greeted by a wave of “Block Everything” protests and a nationwide strike on September 18, which saw up to one million workers walk out, causing widespread disruption in transport, healthcare, and education, according to union estimates cited by The Canary.
The demands from the streets are clear. Union leaders, including CGT secretary general Sophie Binet, have called for an end to "all the sacrifices being demanded of workers that were set out in the (last) budget proposal." The unions want a reversal of President Macron’s pension reforms, which controversially raised the retirement age from 62 to 64 without a parliamentary vote in 2023, and they’re pushing for higher taxes on the wealthy rather than further cuts to public services.
In Paris alone, 24,000 people marched on October 2, shutting down iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower in solidarity. The CGT Eiffel Tower union stated, "A large majority of workers voted in favor of the strike," reflecting the deep-seated anger among public sector employees.
Lecornu, for his part, has tried to strike a conciliatory tone. In his first televised address since his appointment, he rejected the use of Article 49.3 of the French constitution—a special clause that allows the government to pass legislation without a parliamentary vote but leaves it vulnerable to a no-confidence motion. "In a functioning parliament that has just been updated and reflects the face of France you can't just force something," Lecornu said, as reported by Reuters. He insisted that compromise was possible, even if it required tough negotiations behind closed doors.
Yet, opposition leaders remain skeptical. Olivier Faure, chairman of the Socialist Party, welcomed Lecornu's decision not to invoke Article 49.3 but demanded more, including a parliamentary vote to reverse the pension reforms. "If nothing changes, the outcome is already known … This government will fall," Faure warned, according to The Canary.
On the economic front, the stakes are high. France’s budget deficit is projected to reach 5.4% of GDP in 2025, and Lecornu aims to trim it to 4.7% in 2026—a target barely different from Bayrou’s 4.8%. The government is under pressure from European Union peers, ratings agencies, and financial markets to bring public finances under control, but the path forward is fraught with political peril.
Lecornu has floated some reforms to appease critics, such as abandoning unpopular ideas like cutting two public holidays and considering tax exemptions or lower social charges on overtime work. He’s also hinted at a possible reduction in income tax for dual-income couples earning just above minimum wage. However, he has firmly rejected the so-called “Zucman tax”—a 2% wealth tax on the richest 0.01% of French citizens—citing concerns about its impact on business assets. "There is political and societal demand for greater tax justice, particularly in order to restore our public finances. We can’t dismiss this debate out of hand. But is the Zucman tax the right answer? The only answer? Personally, I do not believe so," Lecornu told Le Parisien, as cited by The Canary.
Meanwhile, the political landscape is shifting beneath Macron’s feet. The far-right National Rally (Rassemblement National), led by Marine Le Pen and her popular deputy Jordan Bardella, now commands around 33% support and holds the largest voting block in parliament, according to NPR. The party has broadened its appeal to middle-class voters who feel overtaxed and underrepresented. Political scientist Jean-Yves Camus explained, "They are not poor. They are not rich. They have a very heavy burden of taxation. When they inherit something, they get taxed up to 50%, so they pay for everything, and they don't get any benefits."
Both the far left and far right are united in their opposition to Lecornu and Macron, calling for the president’s resignation. Protesters on the left accuse Macron of denying democracy by appointing prime ministers without a parliamentary majority, while the right claims he has failed to address issues like immigration and purchasing power. As one protester, Gal Godar, put it, "For one year now, we've been facing new prime minister. And they were all not what we voted for. So that's a problem."
As Lecornu prepares to present his full budget plan to opposition leaders and parliament, the outcome remains uncertain. His leadership—and perhaps the stability of Macron’s presidency—hangs in the balance. With France’s debt mounting, its streets alive with protest, and its political extremes gaining ground, the nation faces a critical test of its democratic institutions and social contract.
For now, all eyes are on the National Assembly, where the fate of Lecornu’s government, and perhaps France’s political future, will soon be decided.
