France has experienced a day of nationwide protests initiated by a grassroots movement known as “Bloquons Tout” (“Let’s Block Everything”). The demonstrations are aimed at expressing discontent with the political elite and proposed budget cuts. This unrest coincides with the swearing-in of the new Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, following the recent ousting of his predecessor, François Bayrou, via a no-confidence vote.
Protestors have engaged in various disruptive actions, including blocking streets, setting bins ablaze, and impeding access to infrastructure and schools across multiple cities. By mid-morning, around 250 individuals had been arrested, according to outgoing Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau. Incidents included a bus being set on fire in Rennes and the sabotage of electric cables near Toulouse.
Significant gatherings occurred in major cities such as Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux, and Montpellier. Nonetheless, the overall disruption has been described as relatively moderate. Most arrests took place in Paris, where approximately 1,000 masked protesters confronted police outside the Gare du Nord train station. These clashes led to some protesters attempting to enter the station and police deploying tear gas to manage the crowd.
Many protestors expressed their frustrations with President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Lecornu, holding placards that also addressed international issues such as the war in Gaza. The movement, which emerged on social media over the summer, has emphasized demands for increased public service funding, higher taxes on affluent individuals, and a call for rent freezes and Macron’s resignation.
Lecornu, who represents continuity within Macron’s administration as the fifth prime minister in less than two years, faces pressure to present a budget that satisfies a fragmented parliamentary landscape. The radical-left France Unbowed party has indicated plans to introduce a no-confidence motion against him. Establishing political alliances will be crucial for Lecornu, given the divides among the various ideological groups within the Assembly.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8643qg252lo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss