French trade unions on Friday called for nationwide strikes on September 18th, as a political crisis deepens ahead of a confidence vote that could topple the prime minister.
The announcement comes after Prime Minister François Bayrou’s unexpected decision to hold the vote on September 8th, following months of deadlock over plans to reduce France’s growing public debt.
The inter-union group urged a “major day of strikes and protests,” expressing frustration at the prime minister’s proposed spending cuts.
“The horror show that is the draft budget must be abandoned,” CFDT union chief Marylise Leon said after a meeting of trade unions on Friday.
“The various budgetary measures put forward are unprecedented in their brutality,” she added.
CGT leader Sophie Binet said protests were necessary to push the government to address “social demands.”
“We want tax justice, we want money for our public services, which can no longer cope. We want wage increases, we want the pension reform to be repealed,” Binet said.
Meanwhile, an anti-government campaign dubbed “Bloquons tout” (Let’s block everything) and backed by the Left has called for a separate nationwide shutdown on September 10th.
Binet said Friday that the CGT would back the movement by organising strikes.
Bayrou’s plan to save around €44 billion—including scrapping two public holidays and freezing spending increases—has sparked widespread anger across France.
