France's CGT Union Initiates Nationwide Protests Against 2026 Budget, Citing Harm to Retirees

CGT Mobilizes Against 2026 Budget Proposals

The General Confederation of Labour (CGT) in France initiated a series of nationwide protests on November 6, 2025, specifically targeting the government's proposed 2026 budget project. The initial phase of this mobilization, spearheaded by the Union Confédérale des Retraités (UCR-CGT) and various intersyndical coalitions, focused on measures perceived to negatively impact retirees.

The union contends that the 2026 budget threatens public services, workers' rights, and social welfare programs, advocating for greater public funding and increased taxation on high-income individuals and corporations.

Key Budget Measures Sparking Outrage Among Retirees

The CGT and other unions have voiced strong opposition to several provisions within the draft 2026 budget that directly affect pensioners. These include:

• A proposed freeze on pension payouts at 2025 levels for a year.
• A plan to de-index pensions from inflation starting in 2027, with increases set to be 0.4 percentage points below inflation.
• The replacement of the existing 10% income tax allowance for pensioners with a flat €2,000 reduction. This change is expected to result in a loss for higher-income pensioners, while potentially benefiting those on the most modest incomes.
• The potential doubling of medical deductibles, which unions argue would disproportionately affect retirees who typically require more medical care.

Sophie Binet, General Secretary of the CGT, stated that 'The pill is particularly hard for pensioners,' highlighting that they 'will be the first victims of an explosion in healthcare costs, because they are the ones who need the most medical care.'

Union Demands and Broader Context

Beyond the specific concerns for retirees, the CGT's broader objectives for the mobilization include increased public funding for essential services, progressive taxation of corporations and high earners, protection of pension and welfare schemes, and strengthening labor rights and wage security. The union also calls for a reversal of the controversial 2023 pension reforms.

These protests are part of a larger wave of labor dissatisfaction in France concerning fiscal austerity and pension reforms, building upon earlier union-led actions throughout 2025. The CGT has indicated that the current mobilization could expand to include broader sectoral coordination, potentially leading to strikes in health, transport, and pension sectors, depending on the government's response.

Government's Stance and Parliamentary Debates

The French government, under Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, aims to significantly reduce the Social Security deficit to €17.5 billion in 2026 from €23 billion in 2025, and the public deficit to 4.7% of GDP in 2026 from 5.4% in 2025. To garner support for the budget, Prime Minister Lecornu announced the suspension of the 2023 pension reform, which aimed to raise the retirement age, until after the next presidential elections in 2027.

Debates over the 2026 budget have been contentious in parliament, with concerns that lawmakers might miss the legal deadline for adoption, potentially allowing the government to enact the bill by executive order.

Anticipated Impact and Future Actions

Protests were scheduled in numerous major cities across France, including Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Dijon, Metz, Poitiers, and Montpellier. A significant march in Paris was planned to proceed from the Palais du Luxembourg to the National Assembly. Disruptions across public services, transport, and logistics were anticipated. While the initial focus is on retirees, the CGT has hinted at further actions if parliamentary negotiations fail to address labor concerns.