France Arrests 675 During “Block Everything” Protests as Political Tensions Mount
French authorities arrested 675 people nationwide during the Sept. 10 “Block Everything” protests, including 280 in the Paris region, according to Interior Ministry figures reported by BFM TV on Thursday. Of these, 549 led to police custody after overnight clashes. Paris Police Chief Laurent Nunez confirmed that 164 protesters remained in custody Thursday morning, with many arrested at hotspots such as Place des Fêtes.
Smaller protests persisted Thursday, including attempted blockades in Nantes and at Sciences Po university in Paris, where police intervened. Nunez pledged that authorities would continue to act with “the same determination, the same vigilance, the same doctrine” to prevent future blockades. French trade unions, however, have already called for another nationwide protest on Sept. 18, with a march planned in Paris, though its final route has yet to be approved by police.
The grassroots “Block Everything” movement began on social media, urging citizens to paralyze the country in opposition to controversial budget proposals. Backed by France Unbowed (LFI) party, the protests reflected mounting discontent over economic austerity measures.
France is currently grappling with political instability after former Prime Minister François Bayrou lost a confidence vote earlier this week. Macron has since appointed Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu as the new prime minister, tasked with building a coalition. France, burdened with one of the European Union’s largest budget deficits at 5.8% of GDP and a soaring public debt of 113%, remains divided over budget reforms that have already toppled previous governments.
