France's nationwide strike draws over 600,000 protesters after budget rejection
A nationwide strike in France drew over 600,000 protesters on Thursday, following parliament's unanimous rejection of the first part of the 2027 budget bill. The demonstrations, organized by unions, targeted wage concerns and public service cuts. The Interior Ministry estimated 600,000 participants, while the CGT union claimed nearly 1.6 million, including 350,000 in Paris. "Yellow Vest" activists, students, and workers joined the mobilization. Clashes occurred in several cities, with 24 arrests in Lyon and injuries reported in Paris and Toulouse. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced a social conference for Monday to address purchasing power and wages. The protests come amid a debt crisis, fuel price hikes, and student unrest over university conditions, with the government facing a fractured parliament ahead of spring presidential elections.