Paris – On Wednesday, September 10, 2025, French authorities arrested at least 473 people during widespread protests under the slogan “Block Everything” (“Bloquons Tout”), which expressed public anger over the austerity budget plan proposed by former Prime Minister François Bayrou, according to media reports cited by aps.dz.
Of those arrested, 203 were detained in Paris and its suburbs, as reported by local authorities. France is experiencing a wave of mobilization amid large-scale protests and strikes within the “Block Everything” movement, aiming to paralyze key sectors such as transportation, industry, and services, in rejection of the government’s austerity policies.
Since early Wednesday, students, workers, and retirees took to the streets, turning many French cities into arenas of outrage against austerity measures, the housing crisis, and the lack of prospects for youth, according to local reports.
Clashes occurred between protesters and police in Paris, where rubbish bins were set alight. The authorities deployed 80,000 additional police officers to manage the unrest. Vinci, a major highway operator, reported protests and traffic disruptions on motorways across the country, including in Marseille, Montpellier, Nantes, and Lyon.
The French National Railway Company (SNCF) announced disruptions to regional transport services, while the French Civil Aviation Authority warned of potential halts to airport operations. Media reports also indicated that protests would affect businesses and universities.
The unrest impacted around 100 secondary schools, with 27 completely closed, alongside student protests in several cities.
Protesters plan to further disrupt activities nationwide, as the “Block Everything” movement has gained momentum through social media platforms. The slogan emerged following the previous government’s austerity budget proposal, before it collapsed on Monday after Prime Minister François Bayrou lost a confidence vote and submitted his resignation.
The protests reflect widespread frustration with austerity policies and political instability, with demonstrators seeking to pressure President Emmanuel Macron’s administration, which appointed Sébastien Lecornu as the new prime minister on Tuesday.
