France braces for nationwide strike over living costs and budget cuts, with hundreds of thousands set to march

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to march across France on a day of nationwide strike action. The strike called by trade unions is expected to extend to hospital workers, air traffic control, the post office, teachers and rail staff.

President Emmanuel Macron's final months in office continue to be marred by domestic crises. High school students protesting over poor teaching conditions have been joined by workers in weekly protests over the cost of living. At the same time, the government is struggling to pass a belt-tightening budget in a divided parliament, as public debt approaches 120% of economic output.

Ahead of Thursday's strike action, France's four main rail unions said the government's proposed budget cuts would worsen poverty, slash social security, freeze state workers' salaries and dry up investment needed for environmental measures.

Amid the renewed protests centred on living costs, public spending cuts and the troubled education system, the far-right, anti-immigration candidate Marine Le Pen is polling high for the 2027 presidential election to choose Macron's successor next spring.

High school students have continued to blockade schools over overcrowded classes and dilapidated buildings, saying the government's proposed measures on capping some class sizes and loaning funds to regional authorities to fix schools were not enough. University students have also joined in blockading some faculties. Trade unions from across the political landscape have joined the call for strikes over the rising cost of living, and private schools' teachers unions are also joining the strikes alongside state school teachers.

Rights groups have protested over heavy policing and what they call an 'authoritarian' attempt by Macron's executive to clamp down on the right to demonstrate. The French Human Rights League said there was an 'authoritarian shift' to stifle any dissenting voice. The government put in place heavy policing, and authorities issued restrictions on demonstrating in city centres, as well as curfews in certain areas.

Sophie Binet, head of the leftwing CGT union, said: 'We're living at a very serious time with a very dangerous authoritarian drift from the government,' criticising decisions by authorities in cities such as Rennes, Toulouse and Lyon to push demonstrations out of city centres.

Marylise Léon, head of the moderate CFDT trade union, said: 'The principle of a demonstration is its visibility.'

The national rail operator SNCF said there would be disturbances to train services on regional lines and in some parts of the greater Paris area. Dockers said there would be disruption in French ports. The education ministry said it expected almost 18% of nursery and primary school teachers to strike. Trade unions said they also expected secondary teachers to take part in Thursday's strike.