[Explained] Here’s All You Need To Know About ‘Block Everything’ Protests In France

Paris: After Nepal, now France has descended into turmoil on Tuesday. The “Block Everything” (“Bloquons Tout”) protests swept across cities, triggered by mounting anger over President Emmanuel Macron’s austerity policies and political instability following the collapse of his government in a confidence vote.

The movement, which began online earlier this summer in right-wing circles before expanding to left-wing and far-left groups, has tapped into deep frustration over rising living costs, cuts to public services, and what many see as a government adrift. Protesters accuse Macron’s administration of ignoring the struggles of ordinary citizens while reshuffling prime ministers — five in just two years — in an attempt to hold on to power.

#BREAKING 🚨🔥🇫🇷
Anti Macron protests is getting out of hand in France. There are major Clashes With Police On The Streets Of Paris and Other Major Cities.

Protestors are demanding immediate resignation from Macron and general elections.

France must put Le Pen in charge… pic.twitter.com/0iRKxVFvbt

— Frankie™️🦅 (@B7frankH) September 10, 2025

Amid such protests, France’s new prime minister Sébastien Lecornu takes office on Wednesday. The protests – led by a loose left-wing collective called ‘block everything’ – could be a baptism of fire for Lecornu. The 39-year-old leader is a close ally of Macron and has served the last three years as defence minister.

Macron named Lecornu as prime minister late on Tuesday. His predecessor François Bayrou lost a confidence vote in parliament, forcing him and his government to resign. The formal handover of power between Bayrou and Lecornu is due to take place on Wednesday at midday CEST (11am BST), the Guardian reported.

Across Paris, Rennes, Nantes, Lyon, Toulouse, Marseille, Bordeaux, and Montpellier, demonstrators barricaded roads, set fire to rubbish bins, and disrupted public transport. In Rennes, a bus was torched, while in the southwest, train services were halted after power lines were damaged.

Authorities reported varying arrest figures: nearly 300 nationwide according to Reuters, about 250 as per AP, and 132 in Paris alone. Around 80,000 police officers, including 6,000 in the capital, were deployed to contain the unrest.

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau warned that radical elements had hijacked the protests, turning them into what he described as a “climate of insurrection.” The demonstrations mirror the chaotic, grassroots-style “Yellow Vest” movement that rocked France in 2018, but this time, the anger is compounded by political deadlock at the top. The situation is not very dissimilar to that of Nepal but the immediate reason for prorests is different.