Mass Arrests in France Amid Protests against New PM

DID Press: Widespread protests erupted across Paris and other French cities on Wednesday (September 10), as demonstrators blocking roads and setting fires in a show of opposition to President Emmanuel Macron and a test of the newly appointed Prime Minister (PM).

Riot police responded with tear gas as tensions flared, and France’s Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau confirmed that nearly 200 people were arrested in the early hours of the nationwide unrest.

The protests were organized under the banner “Block Everything”, a movement aimed at disrupting infrastructure and putting pressure on the government. Although it fell short of a full-scale national shutdown, it did spark scattered flashpoints and disruptions throughout the country.

Authorities deployed 80,000 police officers nationwide, in what officials described as a preemptive measure to prevent escalation.

In Rennes city, a public bus was reportedly set on fire, while damage to electrical infrastructure led to train service disruptions in southwestern France.

Interior Minister Retailleau accused demonstrators of attempting to create a “climate of insurrection,” likening the movement to the Yellow Vest protests that shook the country in 2018–2019.

The latest unrest marks a fresh challenge for Macron’s administration, as the new prime minister faces growing public discontent and political pressure.