France is witnessing significant protests led by a grassroots movement named Bloquons Tout (Let's Block Everything) in a demonstration of anger against the political class and proposed budget cuts.
The protests coincided with the swearing-in of new Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, who took over after the ousting of François Bayrou through a no-confidence vote earlier this week.
Throughout the country, demonstrators have blocked streets, set rubbish bins on fire, and disrupted access to essential infrastructure and schools.
By mid-morning, approximately 250 arrests had been made, according to outgoing Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau.
Incidents included a bus being burned in Rennes and sabotage of electric cables near Toulouse.
Thousands gathered in cities including Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux, and Montpellier. However, the scale of disruption has been relatively small. Most arrests occurred near Paris, where clashes broke out between around 1,000 protesters—many masked—outside Gare du Nord train station. Attempts by some to enter the station were thwarted by law enforcement using tear gas.
Protesters chanted moral slogans directed against President Emmanuel Macron and Lecornu, with many holding placards opposing the war in Gaza.
The 'Bloquons Tout' movement seems to have originated on social media a few months ago and gained significant traction over the summer as it rallied against Bayrou's proposed €44 billion budget cuts. Characterized by its left-wing ideology, the group's demands span from increased investment in public services to tax reforms for high-income earners and a call for Macron's resignation.
In the days leading up to today's actions, 'Bloquons Tout' encouraged participants to engage in civil disobedience against what they termed austerity, contempt, and humiliation.
Young protesters outside Gare du Nord expressed solidarity with those in precarious situations throughout France. One 25-year-old participant named Alex criticized Macron's handling of France's escalating debt, voicing skepticism over the new Prime Minister’s capability to break the cycle of austerity.
Lecornu, a known ally of Macron, becomes the fifth Prime Minister to lead France in under two years. His appointment has drawn criticism from both far-right and left-wing factions. His immediate challenge will be to draft a budget that is acceptable to a divided Parliament, where competing political ideologies complicate consensus-building.
As the political crisis and stability issues loom, Lecornu assured the French people in his inaugural speech, highlighting the need for creativity and collaboration with opposition parties. His direction echoes anticipated scrutiny from radical-left parties like France Unbowed, which have already signaled intentions for a no-confidence motion regarding Lecornu’s leadership.
