SAEDNEWS: A day of anti-government action across France on Wednesday saw streets choked with smoke, barricades in flames and volleys of tear gas as protesters denounced budget cuts and political turmoil.
France erupted Wednesday in a nationwide wave of unrest under the banner of the “Block Everything” campaign, a movement aimed at paralyzing the country.
A baptism of fire: On his very first day in office, new Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu faced chaos on the streets, as demonstrators clashed with police and disrupted transportation networks.
80,000 police officers were mobilized
450+ arrests were made
Hundreds held in custody
Dozens of officers injured
In Rennes, a bus was set on fire
In the southwest, train services were crippled after protesters cut power lines
Traffic snarled nationwide
Interior Ministry: 200,000 protesters
CGT Union: 250,000 protesters
800+ protest actions reported
While smaller in scale than the 2018 Yellow Vest revolt, the “Block Everything” movement shows how unrest continues to stalk President Emmanuel Macron’s presidency. From pension reform battles to 2023 police violence riots, France has been caught in a recurring cycle of anger and confrontation.
As Lecornu takes charge, the crisis underscores how fragile the political landscape has be
