Live: France braces for nationwide strikes in fresh test for Macron’s policies

The nationwide action combines street demonstrations with strikes by public workers. It is designed to press the government over rising living costs, public services, education and concerns about the freedom to demonstrate. The mobilisation follows weeks of unrest and has become a broad political challenge.

Trade unions, including the left-wing CGT, called the action. Student groups backed it after earlier protests over deteriorating school conditions and young people's opportunities. The inter-union coalition expects hundreds of thousands to join, both outside Paris and in the capital.

The action is also testing Macron's ability to manage a crisis five months before a presidential election. Police have prepared a nationwide response, while organisers contest some restrictions. The movement's size and possible disruption will show whether unions can sustain pressure after weeks of demonstrations, violence and government criticism.

The planned action is unusually large. The inter-union coalition expects between 500,000 and 700,000 people to join strikes and demonstrations outside Paris. In the capital, organisers expect between 40,000 and 80,000 participants. These are forecasts, not confirmed attendance figures.

Security forces are also mobilising on a national scale. Around 70,000 police have been deployed across France. The domestic intelligence service separately expected 500,000 to 700,000 demonstrators outside Paris, showing that authorities view the gathering as a serious security challenge.

The figures explain the government's cautious approach. Officials want to avoid a repeat of the violence on October 17, when riots and looting damaged shops and public buildings. Large crowds and heavy policing could shape both the day's atmosphere and Macron's political standing.

Rising living costs are a central concern. Trade unions want the government to support households struggling financially. Protesters are also objecting to problems in public services and education, including deteriorating school conditions and limited opportunities for young people. These demands connect everyday hardship with broader concerns about government policy.

The freedom to demonstrate has become another major issue. The Magistrates’ Union, the French Lawyers’ Union and the Human Rights League accused the authorities of an authoritarian shift and filed a complaint at France's top court. Their intervention shows that the dispute concerns not only economic policy, but also civil liberties.

The mobilisation therefore reaches beyond one policy demand. It started with student anger, then grew after weeks of unrest into a wider challenge to Macron's government. Its national scale gives unions and students greater visibility, while the government's response may determine whether tensions ease or deepen.

Strikes by public workers can reduce the normal functioning of public services. Demonstrations can also make movement through cities more difficult, especially along major protest routes. Because the action is nationwide, disruption may be felt well beyond Paris, although the article gives no detailed schedule for transport or other services.

Businesses may face fewer customers, delayed deliveries or temporary closures near demonstrations. The article provides one concrete warning: riots and looting on October 17 damaged shops and public buildings across France. That earlier violence explains why authorities are preparing so intensively for this mobilisation.

The immediate effect will depend on participation, the conduct of crowds and police operations. The article does not quantify losses or specify which services will stop. Still, the combination of strikes, demonstrations and heavy security makes this a major interruption to daily life and a visible test of government control.

The court approved an alternative route proposed by the police prefecture. It runs between Place de la République and Place de la Nation. Strike organisers had contested that route, but the ruling allowed the police plan to proceed for Thursday's demonstration.

The article does not give the court's detailed reasoning. It does show a clear legal mechanism: the police prefecture proposed a route, organisers challenged it, and a court decided whether the alternative could be used. The decision places an official limit on how the protest will take place.

This reveals that the freedom to demonstrate is not unlimited in practice. Routes may be controlled by authorities and reviewed by courts, while organisers can challenge those decisions. The dispute matters because rights groups have already accused the government of an authoritarian shift and filed a complaint at France's top court.

Earlier violence changed the government's priorities from simply managing protest to preventing another security breakdown. Riots and looting on October 17 caught security forces off guard. Shops and public buildings were damaged across the country, and the unrest increased criticism of Macron's handling of the crisis.

The response for this mobilisation is therefore much larger and more cautious. Around 70,000 police have been deployed nationwide. The domestic intelligence service is also estimating turnout, while Macron held a defence and security meeting before the protests. Government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon said officials were extremely vigilant.

These measures show how the earlier disorder shaped preparation. Authorities are focusing on crowd control and preventing renewed violence, even as unions and rights groups raise concerns about protest restrictions. The balance between public safety and freedom to demonstrate will remain central as the nationwide action unfolds.

Trade unions use strikes to turn workplace disagreement into public pressure. When workers stop performing their jobs, services and normal activity can be interrupted. Demonstrations add visibility and show that the demands extend beyond individual workplaces. In this case, unions are pressing the government over living costs, public services, education and protest rights.

The mechanism is collective action. A single worker has limited influence, but coordinated action across sectors and cities can create a much larger signal. The planned mobilisation includes public workers and is supported by student groups. Organisers expect 500,000 to 700,000 participants outside Paris, making the message difficult to ignore.

It becomes a test of political authority because Macron must manage demands, disruption and security at once. The government is already deploying 70,000 police after earlier violence. The action's size, public response and official handling will affect perceptions of its control and legitimacy.