On Wednesday (September 10), large-scale protests erupted in France under the banner of “Bloquons tout” (Block everything), with demonstrators setting up roadblocks, setting fires, and clashing with the police across the country. The protests directly targeted President Emmanuel Macron and the government’s austerity policies.
The Ministry of the Interior reported that approximately 197,000 people participated nationwide (the CGT union estimated 250,000), with 540 people arrested by the police, including 211 in Paris, and 415 detained. The government mobilized over 80,000 law enforcement officers to maintain order, with nearly 600 rallies and over 250 blockades occurring throughout the day.
In Paris, fires broke out on the exterior walls of buildings in the Châtelet area, leading to a formal investigation by prosecutors. Multiple roads and school entrances were blocked by burning barricades, metro hub stations temporarily closed for safety reasons, and some railway lines suspended due to “malicious damage”.
Incidents were also reported across the country: buses in Rennes were vandalized and set on fire, roundabouts and ring roads in Nantes were obstructed by burning tires and trash cans, Montpellier saw widespread smoke, and cities like Marseille, Lyon, and Lille experienced demonstrations and transportation disruptions.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau acknowledged the protests as “significant,” but emphasized that the individuals attempting to paralyze the country did not succeed.
The Ministry of the Interior highlighted that some of the more aggressive actions involved far-left groups, particularly the infiltration of “black blocs” into the protests inciting violence.
The spark for the protests was the proposal by former Prime Minister François Bayrou to cut €44 billion (approximately $52 billion) in spending, even including plans to cancel two public holidays. The proposal was rejected by parliament, leading to Bayrou’s resignation and Macron subsequently appointing Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister.
However, protesters believe that changing leaders is not enough, with their grievances still directed at Macron himself. A Paris Metro union official bluntly stated: “The problem is Macron, he must step down.”
France’s fiscal deficit has reached nearly twice the EU’s specified limit, with public debt equivalent to 114% of GDP. Unions and students have criticized the Macron government for shifting financial pressures onto laborers and the lower class, rather than taxing the wealthy.
Slogans such as “Macron resign” and “Republic of the rich elite” can be seen on the streets of Paris. A 17-year-old student from the Sorbonne University, Emma Meguerditchian, told Reuters, “We need a different government, we can’t bear it anymore.”
Compared to the “Yellow Vest” movement of 2018-2019, this current wave of protests is characterized by the increased participation of young people, from high school students to university students taking to the streets.
Sociologist Antoine Bristielle analyzed that the “Yellow Vests” movement was mainly initiated by laborers and retirees, whereas the current movement is predominantly led by the younger generation. They demand more social justice, reduced inequality, and call for the establishment of a “more equitable political system”.
Some protesting students expressed, “The older generation left us with a terrible world and government, now it’s up to us to change and dance on the ruins.”
Since his reelection in 2022, the Macron government has been beset by challenges, ranging from protests sparked by pension reforms to nationwide riots following a police shooting incident in 2023, and a recent series of cabinet collapses, now plunging into a new round of mass movements.
(This article references reports from Reuters and Le Monde)