France was gripped by nationwide unrest on Wednesday as the “Block Everything” movement swept through major cities, with protesters setting up barricades, blocking highways and clashing with police.
The demonstrations, fueled by anger over government plans to cut spending and frustration with President Emmanuel Macron, drew nearly 200,000 participants across the country, according to officials. More than 80,000 security personnel were deployed to contain the unrest, leading to almost 500 arrests.
Police officers in riot gear block demonstrators gathering during a day of protests as part of a grassroots protest movement called “Bloquons Tout” (“Let’s Block Everything”) calling for nationwide all-day disruption, in Paris, France, September 10, 2025. REUTERS/Abdul Saboor TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
In Paris, riot police used teargas to disperse crowds near the Gare du Nord train station and outside high schools, where students joined the protests. Fires were reported in several locations, including Rennes and Montpellier, where barricades of burning tires and trash blocked traffic.
The protests erupted on the same day conservative politician Sebastien Lecornu was sworn in as France’s new prime minister, after parliament ousted his predecessor over controversial austerity plans. Critics argue that the government’s proposal to slash €44 billion ($52 billion) in spending deepens inequality and ignores the struggles of ordinary citizens.
French firefighters extinguish burning garbage bins set up as barricade by protesters during a day of protests in Nantes as part of a grassroots protest movement called “Bloquons Tout” (“Let’s Block Everything”) calling for nationwide all-day disruptions, France, September 10, 2025. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
The “Block Everything” movement began online among right-wing groups earlier this year but has since expanded to include left-wing and far-left activists, echoing the grassroots energy of the 2018–2019 “Yellow Vest” protests.
As reported by Reuters, much of today’s anger is driven by younger generations calling for social justice and political reform. “We can’t take this anymore, we want another type of government,” said Sorbonne student Emma Meguerditchian, 17. Another demonstrator, 21-year-old Alice Morin, added: “Young people are the future. The old generation left us with a broken world. It’s up to us to change it.”
Police officers in riot gear clash with demonstrators gathering during a day of protests as part of a grassroots protest movement called “Bloquons Tout” (“Let’s Block Everything”) calling for nationwide all-day disruption, in Paris, France, September 10, 2025. REUTERS/Abdul Saboor TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau acknowledged the size of the protests but insisted demonstrators failed to paralyze the country. Still, the scale of the unrest highlights a growing political challenge for Macron, who faces mounting resistance as France struggles with a debt load equal to 114% of GDP and a deficit nearly double EU limits.
