Overview

• The Interior Ministry counted about 500,000 demonstrators nationwide, while unions claimed more than one million, including 55,000 in Paris according to police.
• Roughly 250 actions were recorded across the country, with strong disruptions to public transport and services, including Paris metro service limited to peak hours and high reported strike rates in education.
• Authorities deployed about 80,000 police and gendarmes supported by drones, 24 Centaure armored vehicles and 10 water cannon, after warnings about violent infiltrators.
• By mid-afternoon police reported at least 128 arrests nationwide and seven officers injured, with clashes in cities such as Lyon and a brief, non-destructive incursion into the Economy Ministry in Paris.
• CGT and CFDT leaders hailed the day as a success and demanded withdrawal of the budget proposal, signaling possible further mobilizations, as an Elabe poll found 56% approval for the movement.