Tens of thousands of French civil servants protested nationwide on Thursday, striking over budget cuts and poor working conditions.

The protest erupted just one day after the government fell due to a successful no-confidence vote in parliament. The vote followed the government’s decision to pass a social security budget without parliamentary approval, sparking widespread outrage.

Prime Minister Michel Barnier had proposed severe budget cuts, including controversial measures like extending unpaid sick leave for civil servants from one to three days. These cuts aimed to save tens of billions of euros but faced strong public resistance.

Demonstrators Demand Action

Protests drew between 130,000 and 200,000 people, according to estimates from unions and French authorities. Demonstrators rallied at key sites, including the Finance Ministry in Paris.

Anne Souyris, a senator from the Green Party, criticized the government outside the Finance Ministry. She said the no-confidence vote reflected the president’s failure to recognize the country’s discontent.

Souyris condemned the state of public services, citing hospitals, schools, and care homes as severely neglected. She called for urgent, responsible action to address these critical issues.