Workers across France strike over budget cut plans

Hundreds of thousands of workers are expected to participate in the strike procedures throughout France on Thursday, after the trade unions called for a day of protests against budget discounts.

The Ministry of the Interior said that between 600,000 and 900,000 people can attend demonstrations worldwide, adding that it would deploy 80,000 police officers.

The quarrels were reported in the cities of Lyon and Nantes, where the police used tear gas to try to disperse the demonstrators.

The strikes barely come a week after the appointment The government of Francois Bayro declined.

Public transportation was severely disrupted on Thursday morning, when many metro lines in Paris were closed, while the demonstrators banned roads and streets in major cities throughout France.

Students gather in front of schools and universities in the capital and abroad, prohibit entrances and chanting slogans. About a third of the teachers came out.

Pharmacists are also obligated to break the procedures in large numbers, as 98 % of pharmacies are expected to remain closed.

The French media said that more than 110 people were arrested throughout France by mid -afternoon.

The unions called for more spending on public services, high taxes on the wealthy and discounts in the budget set by the Bayro short -term government.

Cyrielle, a 36 -year -old worker, told BBC that she was noticeable that “economic and social policies were not suitable for me, nor was the Bayu budget.” She was participating in a large demonstration confined to the center of Paris.

“I would invest more resources in public services and culture,” she said.

“We need to be in effect, so we collect the force to continue fighting … to force the government and employers to end the policies that only serve the rich,” said Sophie Bennett, a leader of one of the main trade union groups in France,.

Bruno Retailio, the outgoing Minister of Interior, warned, adding that he had gave instructions to the police to make arrests “as soon as there is a lowest level.”

Jean -Luke Milinkon, the Leader of the Energy Extreme Party (LFI), asked the participants from the “disciplined” strike.

“Any violent procedures will serve only one person – Mr. Retailio,” he said.

Before the protests, Laurent Nunez, the Paris Public Prosecutor, expressed his concerns that the demonstrations would “come out” by the identical left groups and urged stores in the city center to close for this day.

Thursday’s strikes come after about 200,000 people participated in the protests organized by the popular Bloquons movement (let’s prevent everything) last week, and that which Some turmoil caused all parts of France.

The Bayro budget proposal – which aims to reduce the public high debts with 44 billion euros (38 billion pounds) – caused a loss of confidence voting in the National Assembly last week when it enjoys concerts through the political spectrum to overthrow it.

The new Prime Minister Sebastian Lecorno, who has not yet gathered a ministerial team, has not abandoned the cuts and held talks with opposition parties in an attempt to reach a compromise on the budget.

Likerno position is risky. Like its predecessors, Payro and Michelle Barnier, a pending parliament faced three blocks with very different political tendencies, making it difficult to formulate a palatable budget for the majority of deputies.

But France is also staring at the rising public debt barrel, equivalent to approximately 50,000 euros for every French citizen.

Barnier and Bayro were also dropped as a result of their proposed budgets, which would have necessitated significant discounts – with politicians on the left instead claiming to high taxes.

“Of course, we would like more stability in the government, but whether Likorno or any other person, we want workers to be taken into consideration,” Alexander Dubua said to the BBC.

“We need to stay away from the logic of economic performance in the short term.”

Participated in additional reports by Mariana Pessni in Paris