Rennes, France - September 18, 2025 France is braced for one of its biggest strike days in recent years, as trade unions make a rare show of unity to put pressure on the new prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, to rethink budget cuts and act on wages, pensions and public services. About 800,000 people are expected to join marches across the country on Thursday, according to police, affecting schools, rail and air transport. Up to 80,000 police will be deployed. By 7am, several bus depots had been blockaded in Paris and northern France, as well as high school blockades in the east of the capital and Amiens in the Somme. Rail transport was disrupted across France. A total of 250 marches were planned nationwide as trade unions led demonstrations. It is expected to be the biggest day of demonstrations since 2023, when large numbers took to the streets to protest against the use of executive powers to push through Emmanuel Macron’s raising of the French pension age to 64 without a vote in parliament. SHOTLIST Protesters in Rennes on 18 September. [Credit: X/Philleray]