Taxis Maintain Pressure Despite Government Concessions

Taxi drivers are continuing their standoff with the government. Although Prime Minister François Bayrou announced on Saturday, May 24, that the reform of patient transport pricing would be reexamined starting Tuesday, unions remain mobilized and are not ruling out new protest actions in the coming days.

In a statement released overnight from Saturday to Sunday, the inter-union coalition confirmed the continuation of protest hubs and slow-moving traffic operations (“opérations escargot”), describing a profession “determined” and still waiting for concrete measures. Several drivers, particularly independents, have already planned to remain on the streets until Monday, notably around Boulevard Raspail in Paris, near the Ministry of Transport.

A Contested Reform to Curb Health Spending

The reform in question, scheduled to take effect on October 1, proposes a new payment model for contracted taxis providing medical transport. The system would be based on a flat €13 fee covered by the national health insurance, followed by a per-kilometer rate. The stated goal is to rein in rising costs of medical transport, which reached €6.74 billion in 2024, including more than €3 billion for contracted taxis alone—a 45% increase since 2019.

Dialogue Opens, but Mistrust Remains

Under mounting pressure, François Bayrou met with union representatives and pledged to revisit key aspects of the proposal, including the pricing structure and compliance with regulations by ride-hailing platforms, which have long been a point of contention. However, the timeline remains unchanged: the reform is still expected to take effect this fall, and the government’s cost-saving targets are not up for negotiation.

“We were heard, but now we’re waiting for action,” said Dominique Buisson of the National Taxi Federation (FNDT). “Nothing has been won yet. The next moves will depend on how the discussions evolve, and decisions will be made on the ground.”

As discontent persists, some drivers attempted—unsuccessfully—to disrupt the Roland-Garros tennis tournament on Sunday morning. A symbolic move that signals their intent to maintain pressure in the days ahead.