Overview

• The prime minister said he will receive unions again and that calls for social and fiscal fairness are central to his consultations.
• Union leaders deemed the 18 September mobilization a success and meet at 8 a.m. at CGT headquarters to decide whether to escalate or negotiate.
• Strikes hit key services with roughly one in six teachers out, about 18,000 pharmacies closed, EDF reporting a 4,000 MW load drop, and widespread transport disruption.
• Authorities reported largely calm marches with 309 arrests and 134 people held in custody after localized incidents in several cities.
• On the political front, Lecornu seeks a non‑censure understanding with the Socialists as he delays naming a cabinet to late September or early October, with disputes over savings targets, wealth taxation proposals rejected in their Zucman form, and right‑wing pressure for far deeper cuts.