British News Agency

With train, bus, and tram drivers striking, hospital staff joining protests, and pharmacists rallying against pricing policies, nine out of ten pharmacies closed and public transport was disrupted.

About one in six primary and middle-school teachers, as well as school canteen staff and inspectors, also went on strike.

Many high schools from Paris to Amiens and Le Havre were blockaded by students.

Protesters held more than 250 demonstrations and marches in numerous cities—from Paris to Marseille, Nantes, Lyon, and Montpellier.

The strikes and protests coincided with a period of political crisis in France.

Last week, Macron appointed his close ally Lecornu as the third prime minister in a year, after parliament removed the previous two—François Bayrou and Michel Barnier—over sharp disagreements on budget cuts.

Lecornu was appointed after his centrist predecessor Bayrou lost a confidence vote on September 8 due to an unpopular plan to shrink the budget by €44 billion (£38 billion) and an austerity program to reduce France’s public debt.