Another day of chaos in France due to the general strike against cuts.

ParisFrance is experiencing another day of chaos this Thursday due to the general strike called to protest the cuts planned by the previous government. Despite the change of prime minister—the Macronist Sébastien Lecornu was appointed last week to replace François Bayrou—unions and left-wing parties believe the new government will also include budget cuts. Lecornu is a warning.

The new day of protests, which comes just a week after the mobilization that left more than 500 people arrested nationwide, began this morning with some disturbances in cities such as Paris and Marseille and with many problems on public transportation, especially in Paris, where some metro lines are only operating with minimal service during rush hour. By early morning, there were already more than 50 arrests nationwide, and police had to intervene to prevent bus exit blockades.

To deal with possible violent actions, the Interior Ministry has deployed 80,000 police officers and gendarmes, along with drones and 26 armored vehicles that are deployed rarely, usually when serious disturbances are anticipated. The acting Interior Minister, conservative Bruno Retailleau, warned of zero tolerance for violence. "We will be inflexible," he said.

Without a government

The general strike is taking place with a new prime minister, but still without a new government. Lecornu, from President Macron's party, is in the midst of negotiations with other political forces to form a government. Since no group has a clear majority in the Assembly, it is essential not only to bring other forces into government, but also to seek agreements with the left and the far right to avoid a censure.

The key to all this is the budget. If the bill Lecornu must present before mid-October does not satisfy the left-wing parties and Marine Le Pen's far right, both blocs threaten to vote for a motion of censure that would once again bring down the government. The challenge for Lecornu is enormous, especially because France's financial situation, with very high debt and deficit, requires a push for cost-cutting measures. And neither Le Pen nor the left-wing parties are willing to accept cuts that affect low- and middle-income citizens. It's an impossible Tetris.