France’s five main union confederations have called a nationwide day of strikes and demonstrations for Thursday, November 5, local authorities may now ban rallies, and politicians are trading blame six months before the presidential election.
After the weekend’s riots, three things will shape what happens next in France: the unions’ call for a strike, the powers local authorities now have to ban rallies, and the political fight ahead of the 2027 election.
The November 5 Strike
The CFDT, CGT, FO, UNSA and FSU have called a nationwide day of strikes and demonstrations on Thursday, November 5, 2026, The Local reported. They called on “workers, retirees and young people” to join, and The Local said it would be the first cross-sector general strike since September covering public and private workers.
The unions are demanding higher wages, pensions and civil-service pay, and higher taxes on wealth, inheritance and dividends. They also want a reassessment of the 211 billion in annual public subsidies to businesses. In their words: “The anger is immense. The country’s situation is fragile.”
Rally Bans
In his address on Sunday, Macron said local authorities could ban certain rallies “if necessary” in the coming days, without declaring a state of emergency or curfew, France 24 reported.
The Political Reactions
- Marine Le Pen (National Rally): said legitimate grievances were “hijacked by the far-left” again, franceinfo reported, and that the government was “running on fumes, exhausted and disoriented,” according to France 24.
- Jordan Bardella (National Rally): said only “professionals of chaos” were in the streets, not “working France,” franceinfo reported.
- Jean-Luc Mélenchon (La France Insoumise): praised “tens of thousands of people calmly mobilized” and criticised the images of violence, franceinfo reported.
- Marine Tondelier (Greens): called on the government to “review” its public-order doctrine, saying the approach endangers both protesters and police, franceinfo reported.
- Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu: backed the police who faced “violence of extreme intensity.”
The Election
AFP reported that elections to replace Macron are due in April-May 2027, about six months away. SBS noted that Macron cannot run again.
Why It Matters
The unions’ November 5 date gives the government just over two weeks to calm the situation. The coming budget vote and the 2027 election mean every side is now framing the unrest politically.
