Hundreds of thousands of French on the streets against austerity measures – Riots in Nantes, Rennes and Lyon

Hundreds of thousands of French radical took to the streets successful cities crossed the state connected Thursday to protestation austerity measures successful the 2026 budget.

With slogans calling for Macron and Lecorni to resign, radical of each ages demonstrated peacefully – mostly – successful Paris, portion immoderate insignificant incidents occurred successful Nantes, Rennes, and Lyon. Tensions betwixt constabulary and protesters besides took spot successful Marshall.

On September 18, 2025, France faced escalating nationwide protests and strikes, with up to 800,000 participants opposing €43.8 cardinal successful austerity cuts and a defence fund hike to €64 cardinal by 2027.

In a constabulary briefing issued soon earlier 4pm (local time), constabulary said 140 radical had been arrested crossed France, including 21 successful Paris. Meanwhile, 8 members of the information forces were somewhat injured. Authorities besides reported 282,477 protesters successful cities extracurricular Paris, with labour unions saying that the fig of radical who took to the streets to protestation reached 400,000. Meanwhile, the pharmacists’ national said that astir 20,000 pharmacists are taking portion successful today’s protests.

About 70 radical tried to participate the Ministry of Culture

Meanwhile, astir 70 radical tried to participate the Culture Ministry astatine noon, blocking 3 of its entrances to protestation against Minister Rashida Dati, an AFP newsman said. “Since they don’t privation america to enter, nary 1 volition participate the ministry, the protesters chanted. “Dati, you’re finished, civilization is successful the streets, they added.

They past formed a march and headed to Bastille Square to articulation the opening of the demonstration.

Protesters besides marched with fume bombs and slogans to the Finance Ministry.

Tensions astatine the Voltaire metro presumption successful Paris

In the aboriginal afternoon, tensions began to flare astatine Voltaire metro presumption successful Paris arsenic a radical of astir a 100 radical dressed successful achromatic began hurling objects astatine police. Police men utilized teardrop state to disperse them.

In Bordeaux, the march reached Victory Square without immoderate peculiar problems, with protesters chanting “Macron, resign!” and “Le Corneille, you’re done, the younker are successful the streets!” The beingness of information forces was discreet.