France is seeing 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 are taking place on the same day new Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu was sworn in following the toppling of his predecessor, François Bayrou, in a no-confidence vote earlier this week.
Demonstrators blocked streets, set bins on fire, and disrupted access to infrastructure and schools across the country. Around 250 people had been arrested by mid-morning, according to outgoing Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau. A bus was torched in Rennes and electric cables near Toulouse were sabotaged.
Several thousand people gathered in Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux and Montpellier. However, the disruption has remained fairly small-scale. Most of the arrests occurred in or around Paris, where about 1,000 protesters—many masked or wearing balaclavas—clashed with police outside Gare du Nord train station. Some attempted to enter the station but were thwarted by agents who fired tear gas, according to French media.
Many protesters chanted political slogans against President Emmanuel Macron and Lecornu. Some carried placards against the war in Gaza. The movement has a distinct left-wing character, with demands including increased investment in public services, taxation for high earners, rent freezes, and Macron's resignation. In the lead-up to Wednesday's protests, *Let's Block Everything* urged people to partake in acts of civil disobedience against austerity, contempt, and humiliation.
A group of young protesters outside Gare du Nord told the BBC they were demonstrating in solidarity with those in precarious situations across France. One protester expressed frustration with Macron's handling of the nation's spiraling debt, stating he had no faith in the new prime minister.
Lecornu, a loyalist to Macron, is the fifth prime minister in under two years and is already facing criticism from both far-right and left-wing parties. His initial task is to draft a budget acceptable to a hung parliament, a challenge that has already resulted in the downfall of his predecessors. The radical-left France Unbowed party has signaled intentions to initiate a no-confidence motion against Lecornu as soon as possible.
In his first speech as Prime Minister, Lecornu emphasized the need for sobriety and humility in governance and pledged to engage with political parties and unions to address the ongoing political crisis.
The demonstrations are taking place on the same day new Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu was sworn in following the toppling of his predecessor, François Bayrou, in a no-confidence vote earlier this week.
Demonstrators blocked streets, set bins on fire, and disrupted access to infrastructure and schools across the country. Around 250 people had been arrested by mid-morning, according to outgoing Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau. A bus was torched in Rennes and electric cables near Toulouse were sabotaged.
Several thousand people gathered in Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux and Montpellier. However, the disruption has remained fairly small-scale. Most of the arrests occurred in or around Paris, where about 1,000 protesters—many masked or wearing balaclavas—clashed with police outside Gare du Nord train station. Some attempted to enter the station but were thwarted by agents who fired tear gas, according to French media.
Many protesters chanted political slogans against President Emmanuel Macron and Lecornu. Some carried placards against the war in Gaza. The movement has a distinct left-wing character, with demands including increased investment in public services, taxation for high earners, rent freezes, and Macron's resignation. In the lead-up to Wednesday's protests, *Let's Block Everything* urged people to partake in acts of civil disobedience against austerity, contempt, and humiliation.
A group of young protesters outside Gare du Nord told the BBC they were demonstrating in solidarity with those in precarious situations across France. One protester expressed frustration with Macron's handling of the nation's spiraling debt, stating he had no faith in the new prime minister.
Lecornu, a loyalist to Macron, is the fifth prime minister in under two years and is already facing criticism from both far-right and left-wing parties. His initial task is to draft a budget acceptable to a hung parliament, a challenge that has already resulted in the downfall of his predecessors. The radical-left France Unbowed party has signaled intentions to initiate a no-confidence motion against Lecornu as soon as possible.
In his first speech as Prime Minister, Lecornu emphasized the need for sobriety and humility in governance and pledged to engage with political parties and unions to address the ongoing political crisis.
