Macron Appoints Defense Minister Lecornu as France’s PM, Protests Erupt/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Protesters across France staged disruptive demonstrations under the “Block Everything” slogan, clashing with police, torching vehicles, and blocking traffic in anger over President Emmanuel Macron’s government and planned budget cuts. Nearly 300 arrests were made as tens of thousands of police tried to contain unrest. The movement, loosely organized on social media, is drawing comparisons to the 2018 Yellow Vest uprising. The protests erupted just days after Macron’s government was defeated in parliament, forcing Prime Minister Francois Bayrou to resign. Macron quickly appointed Sebastien Lecornu, a close ally, as the new prime minister. But many demonstrators said the change was meaningless.
France Protests — Quick Looks
- Protests in multiple cities: Paris, Nantes, Montpellier, Rennes, Lyon, Toulouse
- Police response: 80,000 officers deployed nationwide, 6,000 in Paris
- Arrests: Nearly 300 people detained during clashes
- Tactics: Burning barricades, highway blockades, attempts to storm train stations
- Violence: Bus torched in Rennes, cobblestones thrown at police
- Macron’s crisis: Government defeated in parliament, appoints new PM Sebastien Lecornu
- Movement origins: Began among right-wing online groups, now led by left and far-left
- Comparisons: Echoes of the 2018 “Yellow Vest” anti-Macron protests
- Public demands: Stop austerity cuts, increase funding for schools and hospitals
- Interior Minister warning: Fear of infiltration by radical groups
Deep Look: Protesters In France Launch ‘Block Everything’ Campaign Against Macron and Budget Cuts
NANTES / PARIS — France witnessed a new wave of unrest Wednesday as protesters launched coordinated demonstrations under the banner “Block Everything,” vowing to disrupt daily life across the country in a show of defiance against President Emmanuel Macron and his government’s austerity plans.
Nearly 300 Arrests in Nationwide Clashes
Police reported nearly 300 arrests as demonstrators clashed with security forces, lit fires, and blocked traffic in multiple cities. Authorities said 80,000 officers were deployed nationwide, including 6,000 in Paris, to clear barricades and prevent blockades from paralyzing the country.
While officials said France was “not blocked” thanks to swift police action, incidents ranged from burning barricades in Nantes to a torched bus in Rennes, and from roundabout occupations in Montpellier to attempts by 1,000 protesters to storm Paris’ Gare du Nord train station.
Anger Focused on Macron
The protests erupted just days after Macron’s government was defeated in parliament, forcing Prime Minister Francois Bayrou to resign. Macron quickly appointed Sebastien Lecornu, a close ally, as the new prime minister. But many demonstrators said the change was meaningless.
“It’s the same, it’s Macron who’s the problem,” said Fred, a union representative for the CGT’s Paris transport branch. “He has to go.”
In Paris, protesters also targeted schools, with police firing tear gas at youths blocking the entrance of a high school. Firefighters removed charred debris from barricades, underscoring the tense atmosphere.
Grassroots “Block Everything” Movement
The “Block Everything” campaign originated online in May 2025, initially within right-wing networks, researchers said. But it has since been adopted by left-wing and far-left groups, who see it as a rallying cry against austerity and a “dysfunctional ruling elite.”
The movement is drawing comparisons to the 2018 Yellow Vest uprising, which began over fuel price hikes but expanded into a broad revolt against Macron’s reforms and style of governance.
Protests Against Budget Cuts
A major grievance fueling the unrest is the government’s plan to impose budget cuts to tackle France’s mounting debt.
- Christophe Lalande, a Paris teacher, condemned planned cuts to education and healthcare, saying: “Bayrou was ousted, now his policies must be eliminated.”
- Union leader Amar Lagha added: “This day is a message to all workers: there is no resignation, the fight continues.”
Demonstrators carried banners demanding Macron’s resignation and denouncing austerity, while others vented frustration at the broader political establishment.
Scenes Across France
- Paris: Police fired tear gas, blocked protesters at Gare du Nord.
- Nantes: Protesters set tires and bins ablaze to block highways.
- Montpellier: Tear gas deployed at a barricaded roundabout.
- Rennes: A bus was set on fire.
- Toulouse: Fire near train lines disrupted traffic before being extinguished.
- Bordeaux: About 50 hooded activists attempted to start a blockade.
- Lyon & Marseille: Highway traffic disrupted, according to Vinci, the highway operator.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said demonstrators also hurled cobblestones at police and warned that rallies later in the day could be infiltrated by hardline ultra-left groups intent on escalating violence.
Macron’s Political Crisis
The unrest deepens Macron’s political troubles. Following Monday’s confidence vote defeat, his appointment of Lecornu has failed to calm public anger. Instead, critics view Lecornu as a continuation of Macron’s leadership style rather than a departure.
“I expected either a dissolution of parliament or a left-wing prime minister, and we got neither. It’s frustrating,” said 18-year-old student Lisa Venier, protesting near Gare du Nord.
With French debt rising and international markets watching closely, Macron’s government is under intense pressure to restore stability while avoiding further escalation.
Comparisons to Yellow Vests
Much like the Yellow Vest movement, Wednesday’s protests have no single leader and rely heavily on social media mobilization. Analysts warn this makes the protests unpredictable and harder for authorities to control.
The 2018 protests eventually shook Macron’s presidency and forced him into concessions. Observers say the “Block Everything” movement could prove just as disruptive if momentum builds.
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