France has been hit by massive protests accompanied by violence in Paris and several other cities. During clashes with police, around 200 people were arrested.
Protesters blocked roads, set vehicles on fire, and built barricades, while police responded with tear gas to disperse the crowds. The Interior Minister announced that around 80,000 police forces were deployed to prevent further escalation.
In the western city of Rennes, a bus was set ablaze, while damage to a power line in the southwest caused disruptions to train traffic. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau accused protesters of trying to create a “climate of insurrection.”
The movement known as “Block Everything” had called for a day of blockades, strikes, and protests nationwide, turning into a major test for the new government. Demonstrations erupted following the appointment of new Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, a decision by President Emmanuel Macron that many protesters described as “a slap in the face.” Lecornu was appointed just a day after former Prime Minister François Bayrou lost a confidence vote in parliament.
“We are tired of his successive governments, we need change,” said one protester in Lyon, where highways were blocked and garbage bins set on fire.
In Nantes, police used tear gas to disperse crowds, while in the suburbs of Paris, masked demonstrators built barricades and threw objects at police.
