More than 400 arrested, roads blocked and containers burning

Hundreds of thousands of people protested across France on Wednesday against the controversial budget cuts proposed by former Prime Minister François Bayrou. Specifically, Bayrou insisted that €44 billion in cuts were needed to address debt and stabilize public finances. Opponents accused him of trying to achieve this at the expense of workers and pensioners, while sparing the wealthy, AFP reports.

The protests, led by the left-wing group "Bloquons Tout" [Block Everything], are yet another example of public opposition to President Emmanuel Macron. They were announced last July via social media. In fact, the X account of the group was created that same month. However, they took place after the fall of President Bayrou on Monday and the arrival of Sébastien Lecornu to the government.

According to Interior Ministry figures compiled by France24, 175,000 people attended the demonstrations. Given the high number of attendees expected, the government had mobilized around 80,000 police officers, a much higher number than was allocated to the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games held in Paris last year. Throughout the day, there were 550 gatherings and 262 roadblocks .

Regarding those arrested, the number currently stands at more than 400. In addition, four members of the security forces have been injured, all of them slightly.

In addition, according to the French Ministry of Education, 27 schools have been blocked by the protests, while around 100 have also been affected.

The protests have had an uneven impact across the country. Throughout the day, images of barricades with garbage containers, road and school blockades, and protesters throwing garbage at police were seen in Paris , AFP reports. One of the most notable incidents was the burning of a restaurant in the center of the French capital.

In Lyon , a road through the city was also blocked, and containers were set on fire. Meanwhile, in Nantes , police fired tear gas at protesters to disperse them, and in Marseille, the police prevented some two hundred demonstrators from blocking a main road.

In terms of transportation, although the metro and trains in the capital have operated normally, other rail services and some flights have been affected.

Various political figures have reacted to the protests. The acting Minister of the Interior called the blockades "unacceptable." According to Bruno Retailleau , these demonstrations amount to taking citizens "hostage" to political demands. He stated that there will be "zero tolerance" for violence.

In an initial press conference, Retailleau asserted that this is not a citizen mobilization , while criticizing the fact that "it has been hijacked by the far left."

On that side of the political spectrum, the former candidate for La France Insoumise has accused the current Minister of the Interior of encouraging provocations. He also called on protesters to be "prudent" and remain "vigilant" in the face of police actions, according to Europa Press.

"It's the same old shit, it's the same old shit, the problem is Macron, not the ministers," said Fred, a CGT union leader at the Parisian public transport company RATP, in statements reported by Reuters. "He has to go," he concluded. The unions have called for a new round of protests on September 18 .