France: 200 arrested on day of protests against government

The activist movement "Let's Block Everything" has called for several protests across the country this Wednesday to protest budget cuts. Promising to paralyze services and transportation, the demonstrations coincide with the political crisis in France, following the collapse of François Bayrou's government following the rejection of a vote of confidence and the appointment of Sébastien Lecornu as prime minister .

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According to Le Monde , the government has deployed 80,000 officers across the country (6,000 in Paris alone) to ensure the protests are conducted properly. However, in the early hours of the morning, clashes broke out in the Parisian capital between protesters and police, with trash cans set on fire on several streets. By around 9:30 a.m. (8:30 a.m. in Lisbon), the Ministry of the Interior had already recorded around 200 arrests.

Early Wednesday morning, around a hundred young people blocked a road in Paris' 18th arrondissement, forcing police to intervene with tear gas . At Porte de Bagnolet, around 6:30 a.m. (5:30 a.m. in Lisbon), several people were arrested after attempting to block traffic, while at 7:30 a.m. (6:30 a.m. in Lisbon), a blockade was underway at Porte de Montreuil—which was accompanied by an intervention by around 30 motorbikes to suppress the violent motorized action .

In Toulouse , several protests have already been recorded outside schools and universities. Around 400 people gathered in front of the city hall. By 10:00 a.m. (9:00 a.m. in Lisbon), 26 people had been arrested, and more protests are planned in the Jean-Jaurès neighborhood.

In Marseille , the demonstration, heading towards Saint-Charles station, retreated before several police lines. Tear gas canisters were launched, and authorities also removed trash cans that protesters had placed on the tram tracks.

The Bloquons Tout movement, without formal leadership and mobilized through social media, gained momentum over the summer and presents diverse demands. Among its targets are the austerity plans championed by Bayrou before his ouster, but also criticisms of social inequalities and the leadership of President Emmanuel Macron.

According to the Ministry of the Interior, cited by Le Monde, participation in the protests is expected to be "moderate," with an estimated 100,000 people taking to the streets. In addition to shutting down public transportation, the actions include opening toll booths and blocking roads, refineries, and oil depots.

In the transportation sector, the impact may vary across France. In Paris, metro, RER, and bus traffic is described as "almost normal," except for a technical incident on line 5 and disruptions on RER line B, where only two-thirds of the scheduled trains are running.

At Paris-Orly, Roissy, and Le Bourget airports, ADP (the company responsible for airport operations) reported "nothing to report," although it admits that there may be disruptions to road and rail access throughout the day. The Directorate-General for Civil Aviation expects delays and disruptions at all French airports throughout the day.

Paris Public Security Secretary Laurent Nuñez warned in a statement to BFMTV of the possibility of "very harsh actions," including blockades on the capital's ring road and airport access, as well as "acts of sabotage" on public transportation. According to Nuñez, security forces are prepared to respond at night as well.

For her part, CGT general secretary Sophie Binet accused the government of trying to discredit the mobilization. In an interview with France 3 , she stated that the government will seek to " spread fear " and portray the protesters as violent, a strategy that, according to the union leader, aims to make the movement "unpopular."