French police arrest nearly 200 as 'Block Everything' protests paralyse the country

French police arrested more than 200 people Wednesday as "Block Everything" (“Bloquons tout”) protesters attempted to paralyse transport and daily life across France, two days after Prime Minister François Bayrou's government collapsed over unpopular austerity measures.

Authorities deployed 80,000 police officers and gendarmes as thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Paris and other cities across France.

The leaderless, non-hierarchical nature of the protests meant that different groups of demonstrators have been organising various actions across the capital, but were quickly dispersed by police.

Some lit fires, built barricades and tried to block Paris' ring road, Europe's busiest urban motorway. The prefecture reported 95 arrests in the Paris area plus eight outside the capital by mid-morning on Wednesday.

At Porte de Montreuil in eastern Paris, protesters set rubbish bins ablaze and attempted to obstruct tram tracks before police dismantled the obstacles and dispersed crowds. Demonstrators also burst onto the highway in attempts to block traffic, but were likewise stopped by law enforcement.

Tensions have also grown around Paris' Gare du Nord, one of Europe’s busiest train stations, where a few hundred people gathered by 10:30 am. Chants of "Macron, demission" — "step down, Macron" — have been heard since.

Police closed the access to the train station earlier on Wednesday as protesters tried to force entry. The law enforcement has since deployed teargas on the demonstrators, while some travellers were also caught in the chaos.

Access to Gare du Nord has since been reopened to the public.

'Sick of it all'

“I am protesting today because we are sick of it all," Marie, a student and actress, told Euronews.

“Today we are here to show Macron that we’re done with all of this. He can’t just keep ignoring us and what the people want," Marie explained, adding she was also protesting against the cuts that will affect the culture sector.

Meanwhile, an unnamed driver who took it upon himself to clear the bikes and trash cans barricading the road told Euronews he was supportive of the demonstrations. “I do understand their anger. Something needs to be done," he said.

Other bystanders were more cautious, if not critical of the scenes unfolding on Wednesday.

“I agree that we should have the right to protest. The current situation just can’t continue," Nesrine, a project manager who lives in the Montreuil area, told Euronews.

"But I don’t think we should vandalise or break stuff. Because who pays? It’s us taxpayers. I understand the anger but it’s not like that we can change things.”

The nationwide protests, organised through social media and Telegram channels without central leadership, emerged following Monday's government collapse and President Emmanuel Macron's swift appointment of long-time ally Sébastien Lecornu as the new prime minister.

"No blockade will be tolerated," warned outgoing Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau as an interministerial crisis unit convened at 9 am on Wednesday.

What is 'Block Everything'?

The leaderless movement gained momentum from anger over inflation, austerity measures and what supporters call a dysfunctional political class. Unlike the structured 2018 Yellow Vests protests, "Block Everything" emerged this summer with less organisation but significant online support.

An Ipsos poll showed 46% of French people support the movement, including many on the left but also more than half of far-right National Rally voters.

Two major unions, CGT and SUD, backed Wednesday's actions while broader strikes are planned for 18 September.

Eric Challal, representative of SUD Rail-Paris, one of the two unions that have joined the protest on Wednesday, said the organisation came to show its dissatisfaction that has been accumulating for months.

“What's being expressed today is what we've been feeling all summer, fed up and angry since the Bayrou budget plan was announced, asking us to work more," Challal told Euronews.

"We're fed up with paying, we're working hard, we're barely managing to keep our heads above water and to think that the hole in the deficit would be our fault is unbearable to hear”

Healthcare and pharmacy workers are also set to protest next week over cuts to medical reimbursements, with unions warning that 6,000 of France's 20,000 pharmacies could close.

Bayrou's collapsed government had proposed slashing two bank holidays to reduce France's public deficit, among measures that sparked widespread anger. Some protesters demanded Macron dissolve the National Assembly and call snap elections.

"It's time for Macron and politicians to understand we are serious," university student Thomas told Euronews prior to the protests on Wednesday. "We're angry with the political system and the fact that the ultra-rich and corporations are not paying enough taxes."