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French Taxi Strike Enters Fourth Day, Major Disruptions Continue

Drivers protest new medical transport tariffs, rejecting government proposals and demanding broader negotiations.

Des chaufeurs de taxis manifestent sur l'autoroute A1 près de Paris, le 21 mai 2025
Après un mouvement de protestation en décembre dernier dans plusieurs grandes villes de France, les taxis ont décidé de passer à la vitesse supérieure ce 19 mai. À Marseille, dès 7 h 30, 600 à 700 taxis ont ainsi bloqué une partie de la cité phocéenne au moyen d’une opération escargot, tandis que 150 manifestaient aux abords de la gare TGV d’Aix-en-Provence, puis de l’aéroport de Marseille-Provence.

Overview

  • Taxi drivers across France are striking for the fourth consecutive day, blocking key roads in Paris, Marseille, and Pau.
  • The strike opposes a new Assurance maladie tariff scheme, which standardizes rates for medical transport but is expected to cut taxi revenues by up to 40% for longer trips.
  • Government proposals to strengthen VTC (ride-hailing) regulations, including fines for illegal activities, have been dismissed by unions as insufficient.
  • Protest actions, including road blockades and slow-driving operations, have caused significant traffic disruptions, with over 200 kilometers of congestion reported in Île-de-France on Wednesday.
  • Tensions persist with law enforcement and VTC drivers, with reports of clashes, arrests, and physical altercations during the demonstrations.