Paris, September 10 (HS): After Nepal, France has now witnessed massive anti-government demonstrations spreading across major cities on Wednesday. Protesters took to the streets against budget cuts and demanded the resignation of President Emmanuel Macron. Roads were blocked, trash bins set ablaze, and violent clashes broke out with police in several areas. The unrest came even as Sébastien Lecornu was sworn in as the new Prime Minister, a decision announced by President Macron just two days earlier.

Interior Minister B. Retello informed reporters that demonstrators torched a bus in Rennes and damaged a power line in the southwest region, disrupting rail services. He added that nearly 80,000 security personnel have been deployed nationwide, including 6,000 in Paris. More than 200 protesters have been arrested so far. In Nantes, police fired tear gas shells on agitators, while Montpellier also witnessed violent clashes. In Toulouse, railway tracks were vandalized, causing further disruption.

According to media reports, the movement has been branded Block Everything and is being driven by a leftist group, though it has no identifiable leader. The campaign, which originated months ago on social media, began as a reaction to former Prime Minister François Bayrou’s sweeping austerity measures involving sharp reductions in public spending. Demonstrators argue that France’s current political system no longer serves the interests of its citizens.

Bayrou was forced to resign earlier this week after losing a no-confidence motion in the National Assembly, where 364 lawmakers voted against his government while only 194 supported him. President Macron appointed Lecornu as his successor, making him the fourth Prime Minister in just a year. The turmoil follows Macron’s decision to dissolve parliament and call for early elections after no party managed to secure a clear majority. He now heads a fragile minority government, with his presidency set to face mounting challenges ahead of 2027.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar