Police deployed tear gas on Paris protesters on Thursday (September 18) on a day of union-led demonstrations across France.

Hundreds of thousands took part in anti-austerity protests nationwide on Thursday, unions said, urging President Emmanuel Macron and his new Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu to acknowledge their anger and scrap looming budget cuts.

Some 80,000 police and gendarmes were set to be deployed across France throughout the day, including riot units, drones and armoured vehicles. More than 90 people had already been arrested on various sites, police said.

Teachers, train drivers, pharmacists and hospital staff were among those who went on strike as part of the day of protests, while teenagers blocked dozens of high schools.

Protesters are calling for the previous government's fiscal plans to be scrapped, for more spending on public services, higher taxes on the wealthy, and for the reversal of an unpopular change making people work longer to get a pension.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

PARIS, FRANCE (SEPTEMBER 18, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. POLICE CHARGING TOWARDS PROTESTERS

2. POLICE IN RIOT GEAR PUSHING BACK PROTESTERS

3. TEAR GAS GOING OFF

4. TEAR GAS BEING THROWN BACK AT POLICE

5. VARIOUS OF POLICE TAKING PROTESTERS

6. PROTESTER THROWING GARBAGE BIN TOWARDS POLICE

7. VARIOUS OF TEAR GAS GOING OFF AT PROTEST

8. FLARE ON LEDGE OF BUILDING / PROTESTER THROWING FLARE AT POLICE

9. PROTESTERS STANDING / RIOT POLICE GATHERED

10. POLICE IN RIOT GEAR

11. PROTESTER RAISING ARM IN FRONT OF POLICE

12. PROTESTERS IN FRONT OF POLICE, TURNED OVER GARBAGE BIN

13. POLICE

14. PROTESTERS WALKING IN STREET

15. SHOP CLOSING METAL SHUTTERS

16. POLICE ON STREET