French Unions Call for November 5 Strike After Failed Talks With Prime Minister

PARIS, Oct 21 (OPA) — Union representatives left the Matignon on Wednesday expressing frustration after a two-and-a-half-hour meeting with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu yielded no concrete policy shifts. Sophie Binet, head of the General Confederation of Labour (CGT), stated the government failed to address core demands regarding purchasing power and public services. While the CFTC noted the government signaled a willingness to discuss minimum wage adjustments, major unions have now prioritized a coordinated strike action scheduled for November 5.

Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin reported that 2,500 people have been taken into police custody following violent clashes and looting during the October 17 demonstrations. Of those detained, 917 individuals have faced immediate court appearances. In Paris, authorities renewed curfews around Place de la République and Les Halles, while Lyon officials extended similar restrictions on public gatherings and nighttime movement to maintain order.

President Emmanuel Macron, currently on a diplomatic tour in the Middle East, has called for firm responses to the violence. He convened a meeting with intelligence services to investigate security lapses from the weekend. Meanwhile, political opposition figures, including Édouard Philippe and Marine Le Pen, have criticized the government’s handling of the crisis, labeling the current administration as weak or ineffective as the unrest continues to spread across multiple sectors.

Secondary school and student organizations, which were excluded from Wednesday’s meeting, are slated to meet with the education minister on Monday. Students continue to demand increased funding for school infrastructure and the removal of the Parcoursup university access platform. As the government attempts to stabilize the situation, the Defender of Rights has opened investigations into 46 complaints regarding police conduct during the recent protests.