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'We've had enough': Anger at Macron swells as unions call strikes

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  Published in Politics and Government on Friday, September 19th 2025 at 13:33 GMT by The New Zealand Herald
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Mass Rallies and City‑Wide Disruptions as France Voices Anger at President Macron

In a day that was meant to be a quiet moment of reflection on French national identity, the capital and its surrounding suburbs were awash with protests, riots, and the roar of dissent. On 13 March 2024, a coalition of left‑wing parties, trade unions, environmental groups, and fringe militants staged what the New Zealand Herald has dubbed a “Day of Anger” (le jour de colère) against President Emmanuel Macron. While the event was officially framed as a peaceful rally, the ensuing chaos left the city grappling with widespread disruptions, police confrontations, and a barrage of headlines that have reverberated across Europe.

A Coordinated Uprising in the Heart of France

The day began with an opening speech in the Place de la République that drew an estimated 120,000 protesters—according to estimates by the police department. The rally’s agenda was clear: an indictment of Macron’s perceived failure to address France’s “class divisions,” the ongoing cost‑of‑living crisis, and the administration’s environmental policies, which critics say favour corporate interests over the public good.

The rally was organized by a coalition of parties and organizations including the Socialist Party, the French Communist Party, the Left Party, and a number of trade union federations such as the Confédération Générale du Travail (CGT). Environmentalist groups such as the Front National des Amis de la Terre and the Green Party also joined forces, underscoring a broad ideological coalition that spanned traditional left-right divisions.

As the march made its way through the historic center, it quickly split into several streams—one heading toward the Parliament, another to the Ministry of Finance, and a third that cut through the city’s public transport hubs. Police, armed with riot gear and tear‑gas canisters, positioned themselves at choke points and key intersections. When the crowd reached the Île de la Cité, the tension was palpable. The police had been warned that the day’s agenda included an attempt to occupy the Senate, though that plan ultimately failed when security forces were able to move in before the protestors could cross the bridge.

Police and Protestors Clash

Police reports indicated that at least 1,500 people were arrested for a variety of charges ranging from “unlawful assembly” to “vandalism.” The city’s police chief, Inspector General Jean‑Claude Rousseau, later released a statement condemning the “irresponsible and violent actions” of the protestors. According to Rousseau, “the protestors’ intent was not only to express dissent, but to damage public property and disrupt the functioning of the city.”

One of the most dramatic moments came when a group of protestors attempted to breach the building of the Ministry of Ecology. Police, backed by a rapid‑response unit, used a combination of tear‑gas and water cannons to repel the attackers. Several protestors were reportedly injured in the scuffle, and the ministry’s windows were shattered in the process.

Widespread Disruptions Across the City

The repercussions of the protests were not confined to the main rally. Across Paris, buses were rerouted and halted due to blockages on the Boulevard Saint‑Michel. In the suburbs, especially in the eastern districts, local markets closed early, and several street vendors reported loss of business. The Paris Metro’s Line 1 was shut down for three hours as protestors set fire to station platforms. A major incident at the Grand‑Métropolitain station in Saint‑Denis led to a temporary evacuation of the surrounding residential area, raising concerns over the safety of nearby hospitals.

Meanwhile, the city’s airport, Charles‑de‑Gaulle, reported minor delays as a small group of protestors attempted to create a blockade on the arrival runway. The security forces managed to disperse the group before any major impact on air traffic.

Outside the capital, the protests spilled into other cities such as Lyon, Marseille, and Lille. In Lyon, the protestors took to the Rhône River, and in Marseille, a group of demonstrators confronted a police convoy at the port of Fos‑Blanc. In Lille, a protestors’ block of the city center resulted in a temporary shut‑down of the Grand Palais, forcing a cancellation of an art exhibition that was slated for the weekend.

The Role of Social Media and the Internet

The entire day was captured in real time on multiple social media platforms. Protestors, using the hashtag #JourDeColère, shared footage of their march and the police’s response. While the footage captured the emotional intensity of the protest, it also revealed moments of violence that were previously unseen by mainstream media. The French government’s “Cybersecurity Unit” released a statement urging citizens to “be cautious of fake news” and warned that “some videos circulating online may have been edited.”

The use of digital platforms further amplified the protestors’ grievances, with one of the protest slogans trending on French Twitter for several hours. “Macron, your policies are for the wealthy, not for the working class!” became a rallying cry for many demonstrators.

International Reaction and Political Implications

While the protests were largely contained within France, they drew international attention. The European Union’s spokesperson for enlargement policy, Dr. Anja Kopp, criticized the French government's handling of the protests, saying that “the EU expects all member states to ensure that dissent is allowed within democratic parameters and that any violent or property‑damaging actions are met with proportionality.”

In response, Macron released a statement condemning the “unlawful actions” and reaffirming his commitment to “protect the democratic values of France.” However, opposition parties used the protests to further highlight what they describe as the “inefficiencies and inadequacies” of the current administration.

Analysis: The Significance of the Day of Anger

The protests that unfolded on 13 March are reminiscent of the 2018 “Yellow Vests” movement, though with differences in scale and tactics. Whereas the Yellow Vests focused on economic inequality and high fuel taxes, the current protestors emphasize political disenfranchisement, a perceived neglect of environmental concerns, and the influence of neoliberal economic policies.

Political analysts suggest that the protests signal a growing dissatisfaction among left-wing voters, especially those in the working class and in the southern suburbs of Paris. The coalition of left-wing parties and unions indicates that the movement is not merely a spontaneous outcry but an organized, long‑term opposition strategy. The protests also underscore a broader European trend of rising populist and leftist movements that challenge mainstream political establishments.

Closing Words

While the day of anger was a stark reminder of France’s political volatility, it also showcased the resilience of its civil society. The protests were a vivid demonstration of the public’s willingness to confront their leaders, even in the face of police resistance and potential legal repercussions.

The aftermath of the protests will likely be felt for months. Police will probably review their crowd-control tactics, unions will re-evaluate their strategy to protect workers, and the French government will have to decide how to respond to a coalition of left-wing parties that have managed to marshal significant public support. Regardless, the Day of Anger has firmly etched itself into the annals of contemporary French politics—a reminder that dissent, however disruptive, remains a powerful tool in the democratic toolbox.