France in Turmoil as Block Everything Protests Target Macron and New PM
France erupts in protests as Macron faces calls to resign.
France descended into chaos on September 10 as the “Bloquons Tout” (“Block Everything”) movement sparked widespread protests and riots across major cities, with Paris at the epicenter. The demonstrations, marked by road blockades, burning buses, and clashes with police, coincided with Sebastien Lecornu’s appointment as France’s new prime minister, the fifth in less than two years. The unrest intensifies mounting pressure on President Emmanuel Macron to resign amid ongoing political instability.
The protests, driven by a loose coalition of left-wing activists, labor unions, and grassroots groups, saw over 200 arrests nationwide, with 80,000 security forces deployed, including 6,000 in Paris, according to the French Interior Ministry. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau condemned the actions as fostering a “climate of insurrection,” citing incidents like a bus set ablaze in Rennes and a damaged power line disrupting rail services in the southwest.
The “Block Everything” campaign, which gained traction online, reflects deep-seated frustration with Macron’s leadership and austerity measures, including proposed budget cuts and pension freezes. Demonstrators expressed outrage over Lecornu’s appointment, a close Macron ally and former defense minister, with one protester calling it a “slap in the face” and demanding systemic change. A representative from the CGT union’s RATP branch told Reuters, “It’s Macron who’s the problem, not the ministers.”
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This wave of unrest follows a pattern of protests in France, including the 2023 riots over the police killing of 17-year-old Nahel Merzouk and nationwide demonstrations against pension reforms, which drew over a million participants. In 2024, farmers’ strikes targeted low food prices and EU-Mercosur trade agreements. Despite these challenges, Macron has vowed not to resign, dismissing the opposition as “power-hungry” and “irresponsible.”
Lecornu, 39, faces a daunting task in stabilizing a fractured National Assembly while pushing Macron’s austerity agenda, which includes €43.8 billion in savings. As France grapples with a national debt at 114% of GDP, the “Block Everything” protests signal a deepening crisis, with no immediate resolution in sight.
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