Paris: Almost 300 protesters were arrested when they interrupted traffic, set up a bus in addition to the garbage containers on the roads and, sometimes, they faced the police throughout France on Wednesday in an attempt to “block everything” in a sample of anger against President Emmanuel Macron, the political establishment and the planned budget cuts.
The protesters relieved their anger against Macron, who already faces political agitation after the parliamentary opposition joined to defeat his government on Monday.
Tens of thousands of security forces that had been deployed throughout the country eliminated the blockages as quickly as possible, authorities said, which means that France, for now, was not blocked despite some fights.
The president appointed a close ally as his new prime minister, the conservative Sebastien Lecornu, who assumed the position facing the same challenge to control France’s debt as his predecessor.
The new PM promises a ‘deep break’ with past policies
“It is the same shit, it is the same, it is Macron who is the problem, not the ministers,” said Fred, a representative of the Public Transport of the Matp of the CGT Union, in a protest in Paris. “You have to leave.”
In Paris, the police triggered tear gas to young people who block entry to a high school and firefighters eliminated burned objects from a barricade.
Police said they had prevented a large group of approximately 1,000 protesters from entering the Gare du Nord train station in the city.
“I expected a solution (from Parliament) or a prime minister of the left and we have none of the two, it is frustrating,” said the 18 -year -old student, Lisa Venier, who was among the protesters near the Gare du Nord.
The protesters set fire to a bus in the western city of Rennes, Interior Minister Bruno Retailea told reporters. He also said that some protesters had attacked the police with heavy cobblestones, but did not specify where.
Retailleau warned that the protest manifestations scheduled for later in the day could be infiltrated by hard groups of Ultra line and become violent.
The “block of everything” movement, a broad expression of discontent that has no centralized leadership and is organized ad hoc on social networks, emerged online in May among the right -wing groups, researchers and officials said, but since then it has been assumed by the left and the extreme left.
The movement reflects popular discontent with a dysfunctional ruling elite that preaches a painful gospel of austerity. He is making comparisons with the “Yellow Vest” protests of 2018, which arose about the increases in fuel prices, but became a broader movement against Macron and his economic reform plans.
Anger for budget cuts
A teacher who participated in the protests in Paris said he was against the budget cuts that Prime Minister Francois Bayrou had planned and that led to his defeat in the vote of parliamentary confidence on Monday.
“Bayrou was expelled, (now) its policies must be eliminated,” said Master Christophe Lalande, asking for more funds for schools and hospitals.
In another protest in the city, the trade unionist Ama Lagha said: “This day is a message for all workers in this country: that there is no resignation, the fight continues.” In the western city of Nantes, the protesters blocked a road with burning tires and containers. Police used tear gas to disperse people who were trying to occupy a roundabout.
New French PM
The new Prime Minister of France, Sebastien Lecornu, promised on Wednesday a “deep rest” with the past when he assumed the position of Francois Bayrou, who resigned after losing a vote of confidence in Parliament.
Speaking at a delivery ceremony, Lecornu promised to find “more creative” ways than before to work with opposition matches while gathering his cabinet, in an attempt to end the political crisis.
Posted in Dawn, September 11, 2025
