France was gripped by nationwide protests on Wednesday as demonstrators clashed with police, blocked roads and set fires in Paris and other cities, intensifying public anger against President Emmanuel Macron and his government. Authorities confirmed that more than 200 people were arrested during the first hours of unrest, as thousands poured onto the streets under the banner of the “Block Everything” movement.

In Paris, protesters built barricades and set them on fire, with police using several rounds of tear gas to disperse crowds.

Interior minister Bruno Retailleau said that a bus was set ablaze in Rennes and that train services in the southwest were halted after damage to a power line. He accused protesters of trying to create “a climate of insurrection.”

The Macron government had deployed an exceptional 80,000 police officers across the country in an attempt to prevent large-scale disorder. Despite this, riots broke out in several regions with barricades, fires and blockages. In Paris, garbage bins were burned, and commuters reported major road obstructions.

Authorities said that 75 people had already been detained in the capital by 9 am local time, and arrests increased steadily through the day. By the afternoon, police confirmed nearly 200 detentions nationwide.

Although the “Block Everything” movement did not fully achieve its aim of paralysing the country, it caused major disruptions to transport, work commutes and daily routines.

The protests followed days of political upheaval after Prime Minister François Bayrou lost a parliamentary confidence vote on Monday. Bayrou, who had announced sweeping austerity measures including cutting public holidays and freezing pensions, resigned shortly after the defeat.

On Tuesday, Macron swiftly appointed Sébastien Lecornu, his loyal defence minister, as the new prime minister, the fourth in just 12 months. The rapid changes at the top underscored political instability and fuelled resentment among many who accuse Macron of ignoring widespread discontent.

Unions and protest organisers argued that Bayrou’s resignation did not change their grievances. “The fall of the government is good, but it's insufficient,” rail union Sud-Rail posted on social media platform X.

The “Bloquons Tout” or “Block Everything” movement began over the summer, gaining momentum online through TikTok, X and encrypted messaging channels. Its calls for strikes, boycotts and protests resonated with workers, students and activists who believed Macron’s policies deepened inequality.

The movement has no central leadership, which analysts say makes it unpredictable but also harder to suppress. While many posts called for peaceful action, authorities fear its decentralised nature allows for flash violence, as seen in clashes with police and property damage on Wednesday.

Its tactics, from blocking roads to withdrawing money from banks and boycotting large corporations such as Amazon and Carrefour, recalled the 2018–2019 “Yellow Vest” protests. Those demonstrations, triggered by fuel tax hikes, quickly grew into a broader anti-Macron movement.

The protests and strikes created severe disruption for travellers across France. Rail and air services were affected, though officials said that most metro, tram and high-speed TGV services would continue as scheduled.

The RER B line linking central Paris to Charles de Gaulle Airport was disrupted, forcing passengers to rely on shuttle buses and taxis. Sud Aérien, a union representing airline staff, maintenance workers and ground agents, urged members to strike and called for a rally at Charles de Gaulle Airport.

The Civil Aviation Authority issued warnings for travellers at airports in Nice, Marseille, Bastia, Ajaccio and other cities, advising passengers to check with airlines for possible delays and cancellations.

RATP, which operates Paris metro and buses, said services were “almost normal,” though authorities admitted blockades by protesters could cause unexpected delays. Eurostar confirmed that cross-Channel trains would operate but advised passengers to allow extra time for connections.

The timing of the protests, just a day after Lecornu’s appointment, has intensified the political challenge for Macron. Opposition parties accused the president of ignoring voter frustration by choosing another loyalist.

“He is running the risk of legitimate social unrest and institutional gridlock in the country,” the Socialist Party said in a statement.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the far-left France Unbowed, dismissed Macron’s appointment of Lecornu as a provocation. “Only the departure of Macron himself can put an end to this sad comedy of contempt for Parliament, voters and political decency,” he wrote on social media.

Jordan Bardella, leader of the far-right National Rally, also criticised the president. “Emmanuel Macron's motto: you don't change a losing team,” Bardella posted online.

Lecornu, 39, becomes Macron’s fifth prime minister in his second term and the third in little over a year. Bayrou lasted just nine months before losing the confidence vote, while his predecessor survived barely three.

Macron’s choice of Lecornu was seen as a move to maintain stability and avoid a dangerous power vacuum ahead of the protests. The president’s office said Lecornu had been tasked with seeking consensus in parliament to pass the budget, a critical priority as France faces ballooning public debt.

Lecornu promised to focus on “the defence of our independence and of our power, service to the French people, and political and institutional stability for the unity of the country.”

Analysts warn that with parliament deeply divided between left-wing coalitions, centrists and the far right, Lecornu may face the same fate as his predecessors.

At the heart of the protests is anger over proposed austerity measures designed to cut France’s 43 billion-euro deficit. Bayrou’s plan to reduce public spending by eliminating holidays, freezing pensions and welfare payments, and introducing other cuts sparked outrage among workers and unions.

Many argue that the measures unfairly target lower and middle-income citizens while sparing wealthy corporations. “The austerity plan punishes those already struggling while rewarding those with influence,” one union representative said during a rally.

Despite Bayrou’s resignation, the public believes Macron’s government will continue with the cuts. Protesters say they are determined to fight what they describe as unjust economic reforms.

Wednesday’s unrest coincided with a strike by London’s Underground workers and a walkout by KLM staff in the Netherlands, reflecting a broader European wave of labour discontent. Rising living costs, inflation and pressure on public finances have fuelled similar demonstrations across the continent.

For France, however, the protests carry added weight given the political fragility of Macron’s government and the growing sense of alienation among voters.

The “Block Everything” campaign’s unpredictability and scale have drawn comparisons to the “Yellow Vest” movement. Like then, Macron now faces protests uniting diverse groups, with some calling for reforms and others demanding his resignation.

The demonstrations are expected to continue for at least two more days, with unions already planning further strike action later in September. The largest air traffic controllers’ union has announced a 24-hour walkout on September 18, raising fears of more travel chaos.

For Macron and Lecornu, the coming weeks will be decisive. Failure to calm the unrest and secure parliamentary backing for the budget could worsen the crisis and weaken the presidency further.

With buses burning, trains blocked and more than 200 arrests on the first day alone, France faces another turbulent chapter in its long history of social unrest.