Riots and widespread unrest gripped France just a day after President Emmanuel Macron unveiled his choice for the new prime minister. Demonstrators flooded the streets of Paris on Wednesday under the banner of the “Block Everything” movement, intensifying the pressure on Macron to step down.
After removing François Bayrou, Macron appointed his close confidant Sebastien Lecornu as prime minister. At 39, Lecornu becomes the fifth person to hold the post in less than two years, reflecting the country’s ongoing political instability. His first hours in office were immediately overshadowed by protests, which many have described as a “baptism by fire.”
On Wednesday, protesters marched through Paris chanting “Bloquons Tout,” or “Block Everything.” Roads were barricaded, fires were set, and a bus was torched. According to the Interior Ministry, at least 200 people were detained. The unrest also damaged parts of the national railway’s power supply.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau denounced the violence, accusing protesters of deliberately trying to stir “a climate of insurrection.” He confirmed that nearly 80,000 security personnel had been deployed nationwide, including 6,000 in the capital alone.
Footage circulating online showed burning trash piles, overturned dumpsters, and clashes between crowds and police officers.
Since winning re-election in 2022, Macron has faced repeated calls to resign. The latest demonstrations revived that demand. One protester described his decision to appoint Lecornu as “a slap in the face,” while a union representative from the RATP transport network told reporters, “It’s the same problem, Macron is the issue, not his ministers.”
This is not the first time France has been rocked by major unrest. In 2023, violent protests followed the police killing of 17-year-old Nahel Merzouk. The same year, more than a million people marched against the government’s pension reforms. In 2024, farmers staged nationwide strikes over food prices, subsidy cuts, and trade agreements with South America.
Despite the mounting anger, Macron has insisted he will not resign. He also criticized opposition parties, accusing them of being “irresponsible” and motivated by “a hunger for power.”
