Nearly 200 people were arrested Wednesday as protesters clashed with police across France, blocking roads, setting fires and prompting a large-scale security response in the first hours of a planned nationwide day of demonstrations.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said authorities recorded nearly 200 arrests early in the protests, which were staged to pressure President Emmanuel Macron and to challenge the government after the appointment of a new prime minister. Police used tear gas and moved to dismantle barricades in Paris and other cities as demonstrators — including groups of students — attempted to disrupt transportation and public life.
Authorities said an "exceptional" force of about 80,000 police officers had been deployed around the country to prevent the movement from achieving its stated goal to "Block Everything." Despite the heavy security presence, there were multiple hot spots of unrest. Retailleau said a bus was set on fire in the western city of Rennes and that damage to a power line in the southwest blocked train services on at least one line.
In Paris, images and video from the demonstrations showed scuffles between protesters and anti-riot officers, with police firing volleys of tear gas to clear streets where makeshift barricades and blazes had been set. Organizers had sought to paralyze the country with coordinated actions targeting transport, schools and commercial centers; the movement began online and gathered momentum over the summer.
Retailleau characterized some actions as attempts to create "a climate of insurrection," while officials said rapid interventions by police prevented wider disruption in many areas. Trains were delayed or halted in parts of the southwest after power-line damage, and local authorities reported road blockages and smaller fires in several cities.
Demonstrators have been mobilized by a loose coalition of groups and online networks, many protesting economic conditions, public policy decisions and recent government appointments. The demonstrations came as Macron faces political pressure and scrutiny over his administration's direction; the appointment of a new prime minister had become a focal point for critics seeking to intensify pressure on the presidency.
Police and local officials said they would maintain heightened security in the coming hours to protect key infrastructure and public transport, and some municipalities warned residents to expect disruptions. The Interior Ministry did not provide an immediate nationwide tally of injuries to either protesters or officers.
The demonstrations mark the latest in a series of mass actions that have challenged Macron's government over the past year. While officials said many protests occurred without major incident, Wednesday's clashes underscore the potential for intermittent escalation when large crowds converge on urban centers already prepared for confrontation. Authorities said investigations were under way into those responsible for acts of violence and vandalism reported across several regions.