PARIS (Dispatches) - French police on Wednesday arrested hundreds of people as a new protest movement called “Block Everything” caused widespread disruption across the country.
Protesters staged demonstrations across France, disrupting traffic, burning rubbish bins and at times clashing with police in a bid to “Block Everything” in anger at the political class and planned budget cuts.
The movement, which gained traction on social media over the summer, has drawn comparisons to the 2018 “Yellow Vest” protests.
Those demonstrations initially erupted over fuel price hikes but rapidly evolved into a broad challenge to President Emmanuel Macron and his economic policies.
Security forces deployed across the country to try to remove any blockades as fast as possible, officials said, meaning that France was, for now, not blocked. Dozens of protesters were arrested and there were some scuffles with police.
The demonstrations took place at a time of political turmoil: two days after parliament ousted prime minister Francois Bayrou in a confidence vote over his plans to tame the country’s ballooning debt.
On Tuesday, President Emmanuel Macron appointed his fifth prime minister in less than two years, choosing a close ally, Sebastien Lecornu, which outraged left-wing politicians.
Paris police said 132 people had been arrested in the demonstrations there so far.
“The ministers, it’s a problem, but it’s more Macron and his way of working, which means he has to go,” Fred, a representative for the RATP public transport branch of the CGT union said at a protest in Paris.
In the western city of Nantes, protesters blocked a highway with burning tires and bins. Police used teargas to disperse people trying to occupy a roundabout in the same city.
In Montpellier, in the southwest, police scuffled with protesters who had set up a barricade to block traffic at a roundabout. A protester carried a banner that read: “Macron resign”.
Police used teargas to disperse the protesters, some of whom threw various objects at them.
Highway operator Vinci reported protests and traffic disruptions on highways throughout the country, including Marseille, Montpellier, Nantes and Lyon.
The “Block Everything” movement reflects popular discontent with what protesters deem a dysfunctional ruling elite preaching a painful gospel of austerity.
He said 80,000 security forces had been deployed throughout the country, including 6,000 in Paris. French media had reported that 100,000 people were expected to take part in the demonstrations.