Strikes and protests across France as hundreds of thousands march against budget cuts

Hundreds of thousands of people marched in demonstrations across France yesterday as trade unions held strike action to pressure the new prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, to rethink budget cuts and act on wages, pensions and public services.

- Angelique Chrisafis

There was disruption to public transport as train, bus and tram drivers went on strike, hospital staff joined protests and nine out of 10 chemists were closed as pharmacists protested pricing policies.

About one in six teachers at primary and secondary schools went on strike along with canteen staff. Several high schools from Paris to Amiens and Le Havre were blockaded by students. Protesters held more than 250 demonstrations and marched in cities including Paris, Marseille, Nantes, Lyon and Montpellier.

"The anger is huge, and so is the determination. My message to Mr Lecornu today is this: it's the streets that must decide the budget," said Sophie Binet, the head of the CGT union, as Emmanuel Macron's new prime minister scrambles to put together a budget for next year as well as form a new government.

The day of strikes and protests came at a time of political crisis in France. Last week Macron named his close ally Lecornu as the country's third prime minister in a year, after the previous two - François Bayrou and Michel Barnierwere ousted by parliament amid bitter disagreements over budget cuts.