Anti-Austerity Strikes and Protests Disrupt France

2 HOURS AGO·UPDATED 2 HOURS AGO

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Above: A protester raises his arms at anti-riot police officers in Paris on Sept. 18, 2025. Image copyright: Alain Jocard/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-government narrative

There are indeed legitimate reasons for anger but not for violence and radicalism, especially as France cannot afford another government collapse and its disastrous implications for the French people. Now is the time for dialogue and negotiations to craft the best possible budget that France's hung legislature can approve. Otherwise, the country's crises will only worsen.

Politico

Left narrative

Working people in France refuse to bear the burden of the fiscal crisis while the wealthy escape responsibility. Budget cuts would devastate public services, freeze welfare payments and force ordinary citizens to pay for a debt crisis caused by years of tax breaks for businesses and the rich. France needs higher taxes on the ultra-wealthy and corporations — not neoliberal austerity measures that will only deepen inequality and harm those who can least afford it.

Peoples Dispatch

Right narrative

While protesters block everything and destroy property, there remains a France that works hard, gets up early, and pays its taxes — this silent majority deserves protection from the chaos. These strikes hold daily life hostage and prevent law-abiding citizens from going about their business, with radical elements promoting violence and disorder. The focus should be on parliamentary solutions rather than street disruption that damages the economy and public order.

The European Conservative