Did Over 200 Arrests Result from 'Block Everything' Protests in France?

Paris, Sep 10 (NationPress) French police have detained over 200 individuals as 'Block Everything' demonstrators continue to disrupt daily life across the nation, just two days post the downfall of Prime Minister Francois Bayrou's administration due to unpopular austerity measures.

Authorities in France deployed 80,000 police officers and Gendarmes as thousands of protesters ignited fires, constructed barricades, and sought to obstruct the ring road in Paris, Europe’s busiest urban motorway, as reported by Euro News on Wednesday. By mid-morning, around 95 arrests occurred within the Paris prefecture and eight more outside the capital.

Protesters at Porte de Montreuil in eastern Paris set rubbish bins ablaze and attempted to obstruct tram lines before police intervened to clear the area. Protesters also attempted to access the highway to halt traffic, but law enforcement thwarted their efforts. Tensions escalated near Gare du Nord, one of Europe’s busiest train stations, where hundreds gathered by 10:30 am local time. Police cordoned off access to the station as demonstrators attempted to breach the area, leading to the use of teargas on the crowd, resulting in some passengers being caught in the turmoil.

One protester stated, “I am here today because we are fed up. We want to demonstrate to Macron that we are done with this. He cannot keep ignoring us and our demands.” Euronews reported this sentiment.

Following the collapse of Bayrou’s government on Monday and French President Emmanuel Macron's rapid appointment of his long-time ally Sebastien Lecornu as the new Prime Minister, protests were organized through social media and Telegram channels.

The demonstrations gained traction due to widespread anger over inflation, austerity policies, and what supporters describe as a dysfunctional political class. Unlike the organized protests of the 2018 Yellow Vests movement, 'Block Everything' emerged this summer with a more spontaneous nature yet significant online backing.

Two major unions, CGT and SUD, backed the protests on Wednesday, with broader strikes planned for September 18. An Ipsos poll indicated that 46 percent of the French populace supported Wednesday's movement, including many from the left and over half of far-right National Rally supporters. Healthcare and pharmacy workers are also protesting against reductions in medical reimbursements, with unions warning that 6,000 of France's 20,000 pharmacies may close.

Widespread outrage has been expressed over the Bayrou government's proposals to eliminate two bank holidays and reduce France's public deficit, among other measures. Some protesters have called for Macron to dissolve the National Assembly and initiate snap elections.