Fires, barricades and 200 arrests: ‘Block Everything’ protests sweep France

Although the self-styled “Block Everything” movement fell short of its stated goal to paralyse the country, the online-driven campaign caused widespread disruption despite an exceptional deployment of 80,000 police officers. Authorities dismantled barricades and swiftly detained demonstrators, but groups repeatedly tried to block Paris’ ring road during the morning rush hour, hurling objects, slowing traffic and erecting barriers.

The unrest comes at a moment of fresh political crisis for Macron. His previous government collapsed Monday after Prime Minister François Bayrou lost a parliamentary confidence vote. On Tuesday, Macron appointed Sébastien Lecornu as his new prime minister — only to see him immediately confronted by mass protests.

The “Block Everything” movement, which spread over the summer through social media and encrypted chats, has no clear leadership but a wide range of grievances, from opposition to Bayrou’s austerity budget plans to broader demands over inequality.

While the initial intensity appeared lower than France’s recent upheavals — including the Yellow Vest protests, the 2023 riots after the police shooting of a teenager, and the backlash to pension reforms — the spontaneous tactics echoed earlier revolts. Like the Yellow Vests, “Block Everything” has united diverse groups in anger at economic hardship and Macron’s leadership.

(With inputs from Associated Press)