France's nationwide strike hits trains as Paris metro runs normally; Eurostar cancels three services

Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across France on November 5 for the unions' nationwide strike and demonstration day: the Interior Ministry counted about 575,000 demonstrators nationwide, including about 65,000 in Paris, while the CGT union put the figures at nearly 1.6 million and 350,000 respectively. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced in the evening that he will convene a social conference at Matignon on Monday, November 9, with unions and employers to discuss purchasing power and wages. The Paris metro, buses and trams ran normally, but Eurostar cancelled three trains, TGV services on the national operator SNCF were slightly disrupted, and the suburban RER D line ran at about one train in three. Authorities deployed around 70,000 police nationwide to guard against a repeat of the riots of October 17. (Cover photo is a file photo of a street demonstration in Paris.)

Transport: metro normal, trains disrupted, flights largely normal

Eurostar cancelled trains 9004, 9015 and 9052 because of the strike and warned of possible knock-on effects on other French routes; about one TGV in ten was cancelled, while Intercités, regional TER and Île-de-France trains are disrupted and the RER D is running at about one train in three. The Paris metro, buses and trams are running as planned, although individual local stoppages cannot be ruled out. The civil aviation authority said on November 4 it had not asked airlines to cut flights, so Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports are expected to operate normally. France's nuclear output was reduced by 2.4 gigawatts early on Thursday because of the strike.

March: 2 p.m. from Place de la République; parts of central Paris off limits

The Paris march is scheduled from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., from Place de la République along Boulevard Voltaire to Place de la Nation; the Paris police prefecture banned the unions' preferred Bastille–Concorde route, and the administrative court rejected the unions' appeal on the evening of November 4. Authorities also banned demonstrations in parts of Paris, Lyon, Lille and Grenoble, including areas near the presidential Élysée Palace, both houses of parliament, the main train stations and downtown areas where looting occurred in October. The domestic intelligence service expects between 500,000 and 700,000 people to join demonstrations outside Paris. The Education Ministry said 17.5% of public primary school teachers were expected to strike; about 80 schools in Paris were already closed.

Background: another test after the October unrest

The mobilisation is the latest test for President Emmanuel Macron's government after weeks of unrest. Demonstrations over living costs, public services and education have grown into the worst civil unrest France has seen in years; rioting and looting on October 17 damaged shops and public buildings, and Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said at least 2,700 people had been taken into custody. Macron blamed the weekend riots on what he called "seditious" acts by far-left groups and said all "illegitimate" protests would be banned in the coming days. The Yellow Vests movement plans another demonstration on Saturday, when the Louvre, Orsay and Picasso museums in Paris will be closed; Paris metro line 6 will be closed on Sunday.

Outcome: hundreds of thousands march; PM calls social conference for Monday

The Paris march set off at 2:00 p.m. from Place de la République along Boulevard Voltaire to Place de la Nation; police made the first arrests in Paris at 7:48 a.m., and at about 10:30 a.m. several hundred high school students blocked the Rue de Rivoli before being dispersed, with tear gas used in front of the Hélène Boucher high school in the 20th arrondissement. The Education Ministry said about 16% of teachers were on strike, while the unions said participation among secondary teachers exceeded 52%. The Eiffel Tower stayed closed all day, and 25 metro stations were closed from 11 a.m. at the police's request. The Yellow Vests movement plans to continue strikes and blockades on Friday, November 6, and to rally at Place de la Concorde at 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 7, which had not been authorised at the time of writing.

(Sources: France 24, BusinessWorld (Reuters), Sortiraparis, November 5, 2026; updated with the march turnout and the Prime Minister's announcement of a social conference. Cover photo is a file photo of a street demonstration in Paris.)