France has been gripped by renewed unrest as demonstrators demand the resignation of President Emmanuel Macron, protesting against budget cuts and government policies. On Wednesday, protesters blocked roads, set garbage bins ablaze, and clashed with police.
Thousands of security personnel were deployed nationwide to clear blockades. Police reported that nearly 300 protesters were arrested in cities across the country.
Amid the political turmoil, opposition parties united on Monday to challenge the government, while Macron appointed his close ally Sébastien Lecornu as the new prime minister.
At a rally in Paris, one protester declared, “The problem is Macron, not the ministers. He must resign.” Police responded with tear gas near major train stations and schools, clearing blocked streets.
In the western city of Rennes, demonstrators set a bus on fire and hurled stones at police. Analysts say the “Block Everything” movement, lacking centralized leadership, has been fueled largely through social media. Initially driven by right-wing groups, it has since been taken over by left-wing and far-left factions.
Sources: USA Today, Reuters