PARIS — Nearly 200 people were arrested Wednesday as protesters clashed with police across France, staging roadblocks, setting fires and prompting an exceptional deployment of security forces as President Emmanuel Macron installed a new prime minister.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said police made nearly 200 arrests in the first hours of what organizers called a nationwide day of demonstrations. Authorities deployed about 80,000 officers to break up barricades, disperse crowds and keep traffic moving, particularly around Paris and other major cities.
Retailleau said a bus was set on fire in Rennes and damage to a power line in the southwest blocked rail services on one line. He accused some demonstrators of attempting to create "a climate of insurrection." Protesters erected makeshift barricades, hurled objects at officers and repeatedly tried to block Paris' beltway during the morning rush, although officials reported that the day did not reach the levels of disruption seen in prior nationwide unrest.
The protests were organized under the banner "Bloquons Tout," or "Block Everything," a loose online movement that has grown over the summer through social media and encrypted messaging channels. The movement called for a day of blockades, strikes and demonstrations with broad, sometimes disparate demands, including opposition to fiscal austerity measures that had been championed by the government of outgoing Prime Minister François Bayrou.
Macron appointed Sébastien Lecornu as prime minister on Tuesday after Bayrou lost a parliamentary confidence vote on Monday, giving the protests an immediate political backdrop. Organizers said the demonstrations were intended to pressure the president and the new government, though the movement has no clear centralized leadership.
The spontaneity and diffuse leadership of "Bloquons Tout" have drawn comparisons to the yellow vest protests that erupted during Macron's first term, when demonstrators initially rallied against a fuel tax hike and later expanded their grievances to wider economic inequality. France also experienced months of unrest and riots in 2023 following the police shooting of a teenager on the outskirts of Paris.
Officials said deployments focused on preventing large-scale disruptions to transportation and commerce. Despite the high police presence and some violent incidents, early reports indicated fewer sustained confrontations than in previous waves of national protest, when clashes left significant damage and prompted sweeping security responses.
Transport authorities advised travelers to expect delays and some cancellations, particularly where vandalism affected rail lines. Local police in multiple cities dismantled barricades and made targeted arrests to clear streets and reopen routes.
Political leaders across the spectrum have expressed concern about both the protests and the challenges facing Macron's new government. Lawmakers will continue to debate the contested budget and other reforms that have fueled discontent. Authorities said investigations would follow to identify and prosecute those responsible for arson and attacks on infrastructure.
The day's events underscored the social and political volatility facing France as it moves forward with a reshaped government. Protesters and authorities alike signaled that tensions could persist as demonstrators weigh further actions and the administration seeks to restore order while advancing its policy agenda.