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France erupts as 'Block Everything' protests challenge new prime minister
Protesters across France clashed with police and blocked highways on Wednesday as the “Block Everything” movement staged widespread demonstrations against President Emmanuel Macron’s policies. The protests coincided with the first day in office for the country’s new prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu. Nearly 200 arrests were reported in the early hours of the nationwide unrest, prompting authorities to deploy 80,000 police officers to maintain order amid escalating civil unrest.
Widespread disruptions despite heavy police presence
Demonstrations erupted in major cities, including Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, and Montpellier, where protesters set fires, erected barricades, and blocked key infrastructure. In Paris, demonstrators burned trash and attempted to obstruct traffic at several city entry points, leading police to deploy tear gas to disperse the crowds.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau reported that a bus was burned in Rennes, while damage to an electrical line disrupted train services in the southwest. Retailleau accused the protesters of attempting to create “an atmosphere of insurrection.”
According to Reuters, 132 arrests were made in Paris alone by Wednesday afternoon, with the nationwide total nearing 200. Highway operator Vinci reported disruptions across major roads affecting cities throughout the country.
A baptism of fire for the new prime minister
The protests marked an immediate challenge for Lecornu, who officially assumed office Wednesday at noon during a handover ceremony with outgoing Prime Minister François Bayrou. At 39, Lecornu becomes France’s fifth prime minister in less than two years and the seventh since Macron took office in 2017.
The timing was especially challenging, as NBC News reported, with protests coinciding directly with Lecornu’s first day on the job. Previously serving as defense minister, Lecornu is tasked with building consensus on the 2026 budget and negotiating with political parties to avoid the fate of his predecessor, who was ousted after a vote of no confidence.
Origins of the movement amid a broader political crisis
The “Block Everything” movement, which emerged on social media in May 2025, initially gained traction among right-wing groups before being embraced by left-wing and far-left factions. According to Wikipedia, the movement’s central goal was a total shutdown of France on September 10, 2025. Supporters were encouraged to skip work, boycott major retailers, and participate in “peaceful occupations of symbolic locations.”
The protests highlight broader anger over the 2026 budget proposal introduced by Bayrou’s government, which aimed to cut public spending by €43.8 billion. The plan included controversial measures such as the elimination of two national holidays and a freeze on pensions. The movement gained momentum after Bayrou was ousted in a no-confidence vote on Monday over his austerity measures.
As CNN reported, the demonstrations add to France’s growing political instability as the country grapples with a debt crisis that has reached 114% of its GDP. Additional strikes organized by major unions are planned for September 18, threatening to extend the period of unrest as Lecornu navigates a divided parliament and the nation’s fiscal challenges.