The unions described Thursday's protest as a "great success."

"The ball is now in the Prime Minister's court." The inter-union body met on Friday, September 19, to decide on the next steps following the previous day's mobilization, which brought together "500,000" to "more than a million" people. She gave Sébastien Lecornu an "ultimatum": "If by [Wednesday] September 24 he has not responded to their demands, the unions will meet to decide very quickly on a new day of strikes and demonstrations," wrote the eight unions in a joint statement (CFDT, CGT, FO, CFE-CGC, CFTC, Unsa, FSU, and Solidaires). They also welcomed "the success of Thursday's day of mobilization," which, according to them, "confirms the anger and determination of the employees."

For his part, Sébastien Lecornu said he was keen to "continue the dialogue." The Prime Minister announced Thursday evening that he would meet "again with the union forces." The head of government also assured that the protesters' "demands" for greater social and fiscal justice were "at the heart of the consultations" he had initiated with political and union forces. Follow our live coverage.

From 500,000 to over a million people. While the CGT (General Confederation of Trade Unions) counted "over a million people" across France on Thursday during the mobilization called by the inter-union to try to influence budgetary decisions, the authorities estimated the number of protesters at "over 500,000," including "55,000" in Paris, compared to "nearly 200,000" last week for the "Block Everything" movement. "France has not been brought to a standstill," resigned Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau rejoiced Thursday evening, announcing 309 arrests and 134 police detentions following the protests.

Several sectors affected. As of Thursday, nearly one in six teachers was on strike in primary and secondary schools, according to ministry figures. Twenty-three high schools were completely blocked, and filter blockades were set up in front of 52 other establishments. State civil servants represented a total of 10.95% of the 2.5 million employees on strike, mainly in the National Education system. According to the Student Union, "110,000 young people" were mobilized, with "14 universities blocked." Transport was severely disrupted, as forecast. EDF also reported some 4,000 MW of load reductions at its power plants due to the strike, the equivalent of four nuclear reactors. Pharmacists also mobilized. According to the pharmacists' union FSPF, approximately 18,000 pharmacies remained closed out of the country's 20,000.

A few incidents marred the protests. One of these, in Marseille, was filmed by AFP before the demonstration. The video, widely shared on social media, shows a police officer kicking a female protester to the ground, shouting, "Get out of here," before another pushed her. When questioned, the local police headquarters claimed that 200 "hostile" protesters with equipment were near the Terrasses du Port shopping center. In Rennes, where a few incidents were reported, "a mobile gendarme was injured in the hand during the arrest of a black bloc," the gendarmerie said. In Lyon, a France Télévisions journalist and two police officers were injured during clashes between police and a group of masked youths leading the demonstration.