France is experiencing huge violent protests after the government issued €44 billion in austerity cuts from social services, health, education, pensions, and public sector wages. The austerity measures were enacted first under former PM François Bayrou , and are now administered by the new PM Sébastien Lecornu under President Macron. There is huge anger amongst the citizenry (already faced with inflation and diminishing/low purchasing power) that this cut represents a sustained assault on France’s post-WWII welfare model.
The movement “Block Everything” has rallied left-wing unions, right-wing populists, students, retirees, and public sector workers in a cross-ideological movement. Newly formed alliances include throwing vehicles on fire, blocking trains, and conflict with police, with 80,000 in security forces deployed already and hundreds arrested. Politically, Macron will face instability as nobody party has a majority in the Assembly and a no-confidence motion has already been attempted. Most citizens see Macron prioritizing the EU deficit rules over French citizens’ welfare, raising concerns of expanded strikes, a political collapse, and compromising his European Union leadership.
