Mass Arrests in France as ‘Block Everything’ Protests Disrupt Nationwide

Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1350 EAT on Wednesday 10 September 2025

Hundreds have been arrested in France as left-wing activists launched nationwide protests under the slogan “Block Everything,” bringing parts of the country to a standstill.

The demonstrations, which erupted early in the day, saw protesters setting fire to rubbish bins and blocking major highways. Police confirmed more than 200 arrests by mid-morning. The protests come amid mounting public anger toward President Emmanuel Macron’s government, deepening a national political crisis.

The French government deployed 80,000 police nationwide in response to the “Block Everything” protests, with security forces firing tear gas and making numerous arrests throughout the day.

The demonstrations — part of a grassroots movement known as “Bloquons Tout” — used strikes, road blockades, and civil disobedience to channel long-simmering public anger over President Emmanuel Macron’s government and its austerity policies.

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau reported that a bus was set on fire in the western city of Rennes, and damage to a power line disrupted train services in the southwest. Despite these incidents, the protests initially appeared more restrained than previous waves of unrest targeting Macron’s leadership.

The “Block Everything” plan was launched shortly after former Prime Minister François Bayrou lost a confidence vote on Monday. President Macron responded by appointing Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu — a close political ally — as his replacement.

Lecornu becomes France’s fifth prime minister in under two years, and the fourth to take office in just 12 months, underscoring the volatility within Macron’s administration.

In the city of Lyon, a protester named Florent told the AFP news agency that President Macron’s decision to appoint a close ally as prime minister “is a slap in the face.”

“We are tired of his successive governments; we need change,” he said, as reported by Al Jazeera.

The “Block Everything” movement, which has gained momentum on social media, is driven by mounting frustration over austerity measures championed by former Prime Minister François Bayrou, as well as broader concerns about rising poverty and inequality — both of which have increased significantly in recent years, according to France’s national statistics bureau.

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