Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across France on September 18, 2025, in a nationwide outcry against proposed austerity measures aimed at curbing public spending. Organized by major trade unions, the protests highlighted deepening frustrations over economic policies that critics argue will disproportionately affect working-class citizens. As tensions escalated in cities like Paris and Marseille, the events underscored the growing divide between the government and labor groups amid a sluggish post-pandemic recovery.