French unions, left-wing parties announce strike as prime minister faces growing pressure

By Necva Tastan Sevinc

ISTANBUL (AA) - France’s main trade unions and left-wing opposition parties on Wednesday called for a nationwide strike on Oct. 2 after a tense meeting with Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, who has yet to form his government more than two weeks after taking office.

Sophie Venetitay, general secretary of the SNES-FSU trade union, voiced “anger at a prime minister who has not taken into account what is happening in the country.”

“He has not been able to meet our demands and the response will be very clear from our side, we will continue and increase the mobilization so that he understands what is happening," she added.

Sophie Binet, head of the CGT, said the inter-union presented “six very clear demands” to Lecornu.

These included the burial of Francois Bayrou’s budget, abandoning unemployment insurance reform, scrapping pension reform, and introducing contributions from very high incomes and assets.

“We understood that (unemployment insurance reform) might be buried, but nothing specific,” Binet said, stressing that the inter-union “is angry” and “determined to continue the mobilization.”

Marylise Leon, secretary of the CFDT, also criticized the outcome of the meeting.

“The prime minister has not provided any clear response to the expectations of workers. For the inter-union, this is a missed opportunity,” she said.

The La France Insoumise (LFI) parliamentary group declared that “Sebastien Lecornu must be censored,” urging other left-wing groups to sign a joint motion of censure. LFI said the motion will be moved at the opening of the parliamentary session.

The Communist Party, Socialist Party, LFI and the Ecologists announced on BFMTV that they would join the strike call.

- Political tensions over justice and budget

Former Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti warned of “a security drift” under Lecornu’s government.

“If the executive tries to take control of justice, we are moving from democracy to totalitarianism,” he said.

Current Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin responded on US social media company X, saying: “The security of the French people is indeed my absolute priority. To this end, I am firmly restoring order, without naivety or excess, to the functioning of our justice system and our prisons.”

At the same time, government sources told BFM TV that the wealthiest individuals and businesses will be asked to contribute to the 2026 budget.

While ruling out a “Zucman tax,” officials said the effort will target those with very high incomes and assets, without undermining investment capacity.

President Emmanuel Macron defended Lecornu’s cautious approach in forming his government.

“He is right to take the time, while respecting all political forces,” Macron said, urging confidence in the new prime minister.

Eric Ciotti, leader of the UDR deputies, and Marine Le Pen denounced the planned taxation of the richest.

“Taxing the tool of work, it’s madness,” Ciotti told TF1, accusing the government of pursuing “a far-left ideology.”

He warned that such measures would drive wealthy taxpayers and investors out of France.