Protests hit France as new PM takes office

 

France was hit by protests on Wednesday as Sébastien Lecornu was sworn in as the new prime minister following the removal of François Bayrou in a no-confidence vote. Demonstrators, organized by the grassroots movement Bloquons Tout (“Let’s Block Everything”), expressed anger at the political class and looming budget cuts. The group, which emerged online earlier this year, calls for increased spending on public services, higher taxes for the wealthy, rent freezes, and the resignation of President Emmanuel Macron.

Protesters blocked streets, set fire to bins, sabotaged infrastructure, and clashed with police across France. By mid-morning, around 250 people had been arrested, mainly in Paris, where about 1,000 demonstrators attempted to storm Gare du Nord station before being dispersed with tear gas. A bus was torched in Rennes, and electric cables were damaged near Toulouse.

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Thousands also took to the streets in Marseille, Bordeaux, and Montpellier. Many carried signs denouncing Macron, Lecornu, and France’s role in the war in Gaza. Young protesters told reporters they were demonstrating in solidarity with those struggling under economic pressure. The protests underline growing frustration with austerity measures and a political class widely seen as disconnected from everyday life.

Lecornu, a close ally of Macron, is France’s fifth prime minister in under two years and faces an immediate challenge in trying to stabilize both politics and the economy. France’s deficit stood at 5.8% of GDP in 2024, and the parliament remains deeply divided over how to address the crisis. Bayrou, Lecornu’s predecessor, lost his post after MPs rejected his €44 billion budget-cutting plan.

The radical-left France Unbowed party has already vowed to submit a new no-confidence motion against Lecornu. However, the far-right National Rally has taken a more cautious stance, saying it would listen to Lecornu’s proposals but without much optimism. The fractured political landscape makes passing any budget a difficult task.

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In his first remarks as prime minister, Lecornu called for “sobriety and humility” while acknowledging France’s instability. He pledged to work with opposition parties and trade unions, promising to find creative solutions to restore confidence in government. Critics, however, argue that Lecornu’s appointment signals more of the same, rather than real change.

The protests highlight the fragile state of French politics, where anger at austerity, high debt, and social inequality is boiling over into street action just as Macron’s government struggles to maintain authority.