Paris: French police have arrested more than 200 people as ‘Block Everything’ demonstrations escalated across the country, just two days after the collapse of Prime Minister François Bayrou’s government over unpopular austerity measures.
According to Euro News, French authorities deployed 80,000 police officers and gendarmes to contain the unrest. Protesters lit fires, erected barricades, and attempted to block Paris’ ring road, Europe’s busiest urban motorway. By mid-morning Wednesday, 95 arrests were reported in the Paris prefecture area and eight outside the capital.
Flashpoints Across Paris
At Porte de Montreuil in eastern Paris, demonstrators set rubbish bins ablaze and disrupted tram tracks before police cleared the obstacles. Protesters also tried to reach highways to block traffic but were stopped by law enforcement.
Tensions were high around Gare du Nord, one of Europe’s busiest train stations, where several hundred people gathered by 10:30 a.m. Police blocked access to the station and used tear gas to disperse crowds, with some passengers caught in the chaos.
“I am protesting today because we are sick of it all. Today, we are here to show Macron that we’re done with all of this. He can’t just keep ignoring us and what the people want,” Euronews quoted one protester as saying.
Political Turmoil Fuels Public Anger
The protests were organised via social media and Telegram channels following the fall of Bayrou’s government on Monday and President Emmanuel Macron’s swift appointment of long-time ally Sébastien Lecornu as the new prime minister.
Public anger is being driven by inflation, austerity measures, and what supporters call a “dysfunctional political class.” Unlike the structured 2018 Yellow Vests movement, ‘Block Everything’ emerged this summer with less organisation but significant online support.
Union Support and Growing Strike Threat
Two major unions, CGT and SUD, backed Wednesday’s protests, with broader strikes planned for September 18. An Ipsos poll found that 46% of French citizens support the movement — including many left-wing voters and more than half of far-right National Rally supporters.
Healthcare and pharmacy workers have also joined the protests, opposing cuts to medical reimbursements. Unions have warned that 6,000 of France’s 20,000 pharmacies could close.
Key Grievances and Demands
The Bayrou government’s proposals to cut two bank holidays and reduce France’s public deficit have triggered widespread outrage. Some protesters are demanding that Macron dissolve the National Assembly and call snap elections.