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New Delhi: France was thrown into turmoil on Wednesday as the “Block Everything” movement brought tens of thousands of demonstrators onto the streets. Protesters clashed with police, blocked key roads, and set fires in Paris and other cities, in defiance of a massive deployment of 80,000 police officers. Authorities confirmed more than 200 arrests by afternoon, including 75 in the capital. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said a bus was set ablaze in Rennes and train services in the southwest were halted after damage to a power line. He accused demonstrators of attempting to create “a climate of insurrection.”
The unrest followed Prime Minister François Bayrou’s resignation after losing a parliamentary confidence vote on Monday. Bayrou had proposed sweeping austerity measures, including scrapping public holidays and freezing pensions, sparking fierce opposition. On Tuesday, President Emmanuel Macron appointed Sébastien Lecornu, his defence minister and close ally, as the new prime minister, the fourth in just a year. He is set to assume office on Wednesday. Opposition leaders denounced the choice as tone-deaf.
Unions and activists insist that Bayrou’s departure changes little. “The fall of the government is good, but it's insufficient,” rail union Sud-Rail wrote on X. Protesters argue Macron’s government will push ahead with austerity policies they see as unjust, disproportionately hurting workers and middle-income families.
The “Block Everything” campaign, which emerged over the summer on TikTok, X, and encrypted apps, has no central leadership. Its tactics,from barricades and boycotts to cash withdrawals, echo the 2018–2019 “Yellow Vest” protests. Authorities warn its decentralised nature makes it difficult to contain.
Travel and transport were hit hard. The RER B line to Charles de Gaulle Airport was disrupted, forcing passengers onto shuttle buses. Airline unions staged rallies, and aviation authorities warned of possible delays in Nice, Marseille and Ajaccio.
Opposition leaders blamed Macron for ignoring public anger. Jean-Luc Mélenchon said, “Only the departure of Macron himself can put an end to this sad comedy of contempt.” Jordan Bardella of the far-right National Rally added: “Emmanuel Macron's motto: you don't change a losing team.”
With unions threatening further strikes, including a 24-hour air traffic walkout on September 18, Macron and Lecornu face a critical test to restore stability as France braces for more unrest.
