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Nationwide 'Bloquons Tout' Protests Roil France With Mass Arrests and Disruptions

Sébastien Lecornu begins consultations to steady institutions following unrest over the 2026 austerity budget.

Overview

  • The Interior Ministry counted 596 gatherings and 253 blockages, estimating about 197,000 participants across the country.
  • Roughly 80,000 police and gendarmes were deployed in advance, with notable clashes involving black‑bloc groups in multiple cities.
  • An official bulletin reported 675 people detained, including 280 in Paris, with injuries, fires and vandalism documented.
  • Key infrastructure and cultural sites were affected, including police‑controlled access at Gare du Nord, closures of around 25 museums and monuments, 110 flight cancellations and rail disruptions.
  • Demonstrators opposed an austere 2026 budget tied to François Bayrou’s fall as the new prime minister met parliamentary leaders and fresh actions surfaced at schools and campuses.