Protesters in France bid to 'Block Everything', scores arrested

Summary

• Protests staged in cities across France
• Police move in to remove blockades
• Nearly 300 protesters arrested
• Protesters are angry with planned budget cuts, politicians

Protesters across France disrupted traffic, burnt rubbish bins and at times clashed with police on Wednesday in a bid to "Block Everything" in a show of anger against President Emmanuel Macron, the political establishment and planned budget cuts.

Tens of thousands of security forces who had been deployed across the country removed blockades as fast as possible, officials said, meaning that France was, for now, not blocked despite some scuffles.

Nearly 300 protesters were arrested across the country.

Police officers in riot gear clash with demonstrators gathering during a day of protests as part of a grassroots protest movement called "Bloquons Tout" ("Let's Block Everything") calling for nationwide all-day disruption, in Paris, France, September 10, 2025. Photo: Reuters

Many demonstrators vented their anger against Macron, who is already facing political turmoil after the parliamentary opposition united to defeat his government on Monday.

The president appointed a close ally as his new prime minister, conservative Sebastien Lecornu, who took office on Wednesday facing the same challenge to rein in France's ballooning debt as his predecessor.

"It's the same shit, it's the same, it's Macron who's the problem, not the ministers," Fred, a representative for the RATP public transport branch of the CGT union said at a protest in Paris. "He has to go."

In Paris, police fired tear gas on youths blocking the entrance to a high school and firefighters removed burnt objects from a barricade.

Police said they had stopped a large group of about 1,000 protesters from entering the Gare du Nord train station in the city.

"I was expecting either a dissolution (of parliament) or a left-wing prime minister and we have neither, it's frustrating," said 18-year-old student Lisa Venier, who was among the protesters near the Gare du Nord.

Protesters torched a bus in the western city of Rennes, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau told reporters. He also said some protesters had attacked police with heavy cobblestones, but did not specify where.

Retailleau warned that protest rallies scheduled for later in the day could be infiltrated by hard-line, ultra-left groups and become violent.

A demonstrator kicks away a tear gas canister as people gather to block traffic at a roundabout at Pres d'Arenes in Montpellier, as part of a grassroots protest movement called "Bloquons Tout" ("Let's Block Everything") calling for nationwide all-day disruption, France, September 10, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Manon Cruz

The "Block Everything" movement - a broad expression of discontent that has no centralised leadership and is organised in ad hoc fashion on social media - sprung up online in May among right-wing groups, researchers and officials said, but has since been taken over by the left and far-left.

The movement reflects popular discontent with what protesters deem a dysfunctional ruling elite preaching a painful gospel of austerity. It is drawing comparisons to the 2018 "Yellow Vest" protests, which arose over fuel price hikes but morphed into a broader movement against Macron and his plans for economic reform.

Anger over budget cuts

A teacher taking part in the protests in Paris said he was against the budget cuts that Prime Minister Francois Bayrou had planned and that led to his defeat in Monday's parliamentary confidence vote.

"Bayrou was ousted, (now) his policies must be eliminated," said teacher Christophe Lalande, calling for more funding for schools and hospitals.

At another protest in the city, unionist Amar Lagha said: "This day is a message to all the workers of this country: that there is no resignation, the fight continues."

In the western city of Nantes, protesters blocked a highway with burning tires and bins. Police used teargas to disperse people trying to occupy a roundabout.

In Montpellier, in the southwest, police threw teargas at protesters who had set up a barricade to block traffic at a roundabout. Some of the protesters threw various objects at them. A large banner at the protest read: "Macron resign".

Highway operator Vinci reported traffic disruptions on highways throughout the country, including Marseille, Montpellier, Nantes and Lyon.

About 50 hooded people tried to start a blockade in Bordeaux, while in Toulouse, in the southwest, a fire was quickly extinguished but still disrupted train traffic, the interior minister, Retailleau, told reporters.

He said 80,000 security forces had been deployed throughout the country, including 6,000 in Paris. French media had reported that 100,000 people were expected to take part in the demonstrations.