France was gripped by nationwide protests on Wednesday as demonstrators clashed with police, blocked roads and set fires in Paris and other cities, intensifying public anger against President Emmanuel Macron and his government. Authorities confirmed that more than 200 people were arrested during the first hours of unrest, as thousands poured onto the streets under the banner of the “Block Everything” movement.In the capital, protesters set barricades alight and were dispersed with rounds of police tear gas.Interior minister Bruno Retailleau said that a bus was set ablaze in Rennes and that train services in the southwest were halted after damage to a power line. He accused protesters of trying to create “a climate of insurrection.”
Nationwide disruption despite heavy police deployment
The Macron government had deployed an exceptional 80,000 police officers across the country in an attempt to prevent large-scale disorder. Despite this, protesters erected barricades, lit fires and staged demonstrations across multiple regions. Garbage bins were set alight in Paris, while commuters reported blockages on key thoroughfares.Authorities said that 75 people had been detained in the capital by 9 am local time, but the arrests rose steadily throughout the day as unrest spread. By afternoon, police confirmed nearly 200 detentions nationwide.
Although the “Block Everything” movement did not fully achieve its declared aim of paralyzing the country, it created major flashpoints that disrupted transport, work commutes and daily life.
What sparked the protests?
The protests followed days of political upheaval after Prime Minister François Bayrou lost a parliamentary confidence vote on Monday. Bayrou, who had announced sweeping austerity measures including cutting public holidays and freezing pensions, resigned shortly after the defeat.On Tuesday, Macron swiftly appointed Sébastien Lecornu, his loyal defence minister, as the new prime minister — the fourth in just 12 months. The rapid changes at the top underscored political instability, but also fuelled resentment among many who accuse Macron of ignoring widespread discontent.Unions and protest organisers argued that Bayrou’s resignation did not change their grievances. “The fall of the government is good, but it’s insufficient,” rail union Sud-Rail posted on social media platform X.
The rise of “Block Everything”
The “Bloquons Tout” or “Block Everything” movement began over the summer, gaining momentum online through TikTok, X and encrypted messaging channels. Its calls for strikes, boycotts and street protests resonated with workers, students and activists who felt Macron’s policies deepened inequality.The movement has no central leadership, which analysts say makes it unpredictable but also harder to suppress. While many posts called for peaceful action, authorities fear its decentralised nature allows for flash violence, as seen in clashes with police and property damage on Wednesday.The campaign’s tactics — from blocking roads to withdrawing money from banks and boycotting corporations such as Amazon and Carrefour — are reminiscent of the 2018–2019 “Yellow Vest” protests. Those demonstrations, triggered by fuel tax hikes, quickly snowballed into a broader anti-Macron movement.
Travel and transport chaos
The protests and strikes created severe disruption for travellers across France. Rail and air traffic faced interruptions, though authorities insisted that most metro, tram and high-speed TGV services would run normally.The RER B line, linking central Paris to Charles de Gaulle Airport, was disrupted, forcing passengers to rely on shuttle buses and taxis. Sud Aérien, a union representing airline staff, maintenance workers and ground agents, urged members to strike and called for a rally at Charles de Gaulle Airport.The Civil Aviation Authority issued warnings for travellers at airports in Nice, Marseille, Bastia, Ajaccio and other cities, urging passengers to check with airlines for possible delays and cancellations.While RATP, which manages Paris’s public transit, said metro and bus services were “almost normal,” authorities admitted that blockages by demonstrators could cause unpredictable delays. Eurostar said cross-Channel services would run but advised passengers to allow extra time for connections.
Macron under mounting pressure
The timing of the protests, just a day after Lecornu’s appointment, has intensified the political challenge for Macron. Opposition parties accused the president of ignoring voter frustration by choosing another loyalist.“He is running the risk of legitimate social unrest and institutional gridlock in the country,” the Socialist Party said in a statement.Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the far-left France Unbowed, dismissed Macron’s appointment of Lecornu as a provocation. “Only the departure of Macron himself can put an end to this sad comedy of contempt for Parliament, voters and political decency,” he wrote on social media.Jordan Bardella, leader of the far-right National Rally, also criticised the president. “Emmanuel Macron’s motto: you don’t change a losing team,” Bardella posted online.
Political instability at the top
Lecornu, 39, becomes Macron’s fifth prime minister in his second term and the third in little over a year. Bayrou lasted just nine months before losing the confidence vote, while his predecessor survived barely three.Macron’s choice of Lecornu was seen as a move to maintain stability and avoid a dangerous power vacuum ahead of the protests. The president’s office said Lecornu had been tasked with seeking consensus in parliament to pass the budget, a critical priority as France faces ballooning public debt.Lecornu promised to focus on “the defense of our independence and of our power, service to the French people, and political and institutional stability for the unity of the country.”But analysts warn that with parliament deeply fractured between left-wing coalitions, centrists and the far right, Lecornu may face the same fate as his predecessors.
Public frustration over austerity
At the heart of the protests is anger over proposed austerity measures designed to cut France’s 43 billion-euro ($50 billion) deficit. Bayrou’s plan to reduce public spending by eliminating holidays, freezing pensions and welfare payments, and introducing other cuts sparked outrage among workers and unions.Many argue that the measures unfairly target lower and middle-income citizens while sparing wealthy corporations. “The austerity plan punishes those already struggling while rewarding those with influence,” one union representative said during a rally.Despite Bayrou’s departure, the public believes Macron’s government will continue with the cuts. Protesters say they are determined to fight what they describe as unjust economic reforms.
International dimension
Wednesday’s unrest coincided with a strike by London’s Underground workers and a walkout by KLM staff in the Netherlands, reflecting a broader European wave of labour discontent. Rising living costs, inflation and pressure on public finances have fuelled similar demonstrations across the continent.For France, however, the protests carry added weight given the political fragility of Macron’s government and the growing sense of alienation among voters.
Echoes of past unrest
The “Block Everything” campaign’s unpredictability and breadth of support have drawn comparisons to the “Yellow Vest” uprising. Then, too, Macron faced weeks of street battles, plummeting approval ratings and international scrutiny.Like that earlier movement, “Block Everything” has united people across ideological divides — from students and trade unionists to rural workers and urban activists. While some demonstrators demand economic reforms, others want Macron to step down entirely.
What lies ahead
The protests are expected to continue for at least two days, with unions threatening further strike action later in September. The largest air traffic controllers’ union has already announced a 24-hour walkout on September 18, raising fears of another wave of travel chaos.For Macron and Lecornu, the coming weeks will be critical. Failure to calm the streets and secure parliamentary backing for the budget could deepen the crisis and weaken the presidency further.With buses burning, trains blocked and more than 200 arrests on day one alone, France faces another turbulent chapter in its long history of social unrest.(With inputs from agencies)