France is witnessing a day of protests led by a grassroots movement named Bloquons Tout ('Let's Block Everything') in a show of anger against the political class and proposed budget cuts.
The demonstrations coincide with the swearing-in of new Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, following the recent ousting of François Bayrou in a no-confidence vote.
Protesters have blocked streets, set ablaze bins, and disrupted access to schools and infrastructure nationwide. By mid-morning, approximately 250 arrests had been made, according to outgoing Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.
Prior to the protests, a bus was torched in Rennes and there were reports of sabotage involving electric cables near Toulouse.
Several thousand demonstrators gathered in cities including Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux, and Montpellier. However, the extent of the disruption varied, with many arrests occurring near Paris where around 1,000 protesters clashed with police at Gare du Nord train station. Agents used tear gas to disperse demonstrators attempting to gain access to the station.
Protesters voiced their discontent against President Emmanuel Macron and the newly appointed Lecornu, carrying placards addressing issues such as the war in Gaza.
The movement has a distinct left-wing character, advocating for increased investment in public services, taxing high-income brackets, freezing rents, and demanding Macron's resignation. The protests began gaining momentum earlier this summer, spurred by plans for €44 billion in budget cuts.
Reflecting the group's solidarity with marginalized communities, protesters, including 25-year-old Alex, articulated disillusionment with the current government's handling of France's economic challenges.
Lecornu, who is President Macron’s ally and France's fifth prime minister in less than two years, faces immediate pressure to craft a budget acceptable to a divided parliament. His appointment has been met with skepticism from both far-right and left-wing factions. The radical-left France Unbowed party has signaled intentions of tabling a no-confidence motion against Lecornu.
In a statement post-handover, Lecornu acknowledged the prevailing political instability and committed to engaging with both opposition parties and trade unions in a bid to stabilize governance.
