France descended into chaos Wednesday as protests initiated by the “Block Everything” movement swept across the country, leaving hundreds arrested, vehicles torched, and cities paralyzed. The unrest came just two days after Prime Minister François Bayrou lost a confidence vote and was forced to resign, dealing President Emmanuel Macron yet another blow.
The government said 295 arrests were made in the first hours of demonstrations, which blocked highways, shut down public transit, and sparked violent clashes with police. In Paris, rioters hurled objects at officers, set fires, and disrupted the morning commute. Police used tear gas to disperse groups attempting to shut down the city’s beltway.
In Rennes, protesters went so far as to torch a bus, according to Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau. From Marseille to Lyon, Lille to Nantes, the far-left-led movement lived up to its name, attempting to “Block Everything.”
Student activist Baptiste Sagot admitted the movement’s intent: “They’re trying to make working people, young students, retirees, all people in difficulty, bear all the effort instead of taxing wealth.”
The demonstrations come amid $51 billion in planned spending cuts to address France’s ballooning debt, which now stands around 116% of GDP. Macron’s repeated failures to restore stability have left his government weakened, with four prime ministers forced out in under two years.
