Massive demonstrations erupted in France on Wednesday, resulting in approximately 200 arrests and violent clashes with police. A “loose left-wing coalition” organized the “Block Everything” protests, targeting President Emmanuel Macron’s policies. Violent confrontations occurred outside France’s Ministry of Interior as protesters attacked riot police during widespread unrest. The turmoil followed the collapse of Prime Minister François Bayrou’s government and growing anger over austerity measures.

Protesters launched a decentralized “Block Everything” campaign to disrupt transport, schools, and daily life. Macron swiftly appointed Sébastien Lecornu, a close ally, as the new PM, but demands for snap elections intensify. Demonstrators gathered across France from early morning, with 80,000 police deployed to maintain order. A protester in Lyon, identified only by his first name Florent, criticized Macron’s decision to name Lecornu, calling it a “slap in the face,” and stated, “We are tired of his successive governments; we need change.”

In Lyon, protesters blocked a highway and set bins ablaze. In Nantes, police used teargas to disperse crowds. Masked demonstrators in Paris erected barricades with dumpsters and hurled debris at officers. French lawmakers earlier voted to remove Prime Minister François Bayrou, plunging the country into political uncertainty. Some voices called for Macron’s impeachment or resignation.

The “Block Everything” movement gained traction over the summer through social media and encrypted chats, advocating for blockades, strikes, and protests. Its decentralized nature and broad demands—targeting budget cuts and inequality—mirror the spontaneous spirit of the yellow vests movement, which emerged from anger over economic injustice and Macron’s leadership.