French trade unions have called for a nationwide strike on September 18, as a political crisis deepens ahead of a confidence vote that could topple the prime minister and his government.
The move followed French Prime Minister François Bayrou’s surprise gamble to hold the vote on September 8, following months of deadlock over the government’s plans to slash France’s mounting public debt.
The inter-union group called for a “major day of strikes and protests”, citing frustration over the PM’s proposed spending cuts.
“The horror show that is the draft budget must be abandoned,” CFDT union chief Marylise Leon said after a meeting of trade unions on August 29.
“The various budgetary measures put forward are unprecedented in their brutality,” she added.
For the CGT union’s head, Sophie Binet, protests were needed to force the government to heed “social demands”.
“We want tax justice, we want money for our public services, which can no longer cope. We want wage increases, we want the pension reform to be repealed,” Binet said.
Meanwhile, an anti-government campaign dubbed Bloquons tout (Let’s block everything) and backed by the Left has called for a separate nationwide shutdown on September 10.
The CGT would support this movement by organising strikes, Binet said on August 29.
After years of overspending, France is on notice to control its public deficit and cut its sprawling debt, as required under European Union rules.
Bayrou wants to save about €44 billion but his proposal to scrap two public holidays and place a freeze on spending increases has angered many in France.
Should Bayrou lose the September 8 vote, he must resign along with his entire government.
President Emmanuel Macron could reappoint him, or select a new figure who would be the head of state’s seventh premier since taking office in 2017. Alternatively he could call early elections to break the political deadlock that has now dogged France for more than a year.
The unions’ call came as latest official data on August 29 showed inflation slowed in France and Italy and held steady in Spain in August, as the European Central Bank weighed its next move on interest rates in September.
French annual inflation reached 0.9 per cent this month, down from 1.0 per cent in July, as transport and energy prices eased, the INSEE statistics agency said.
