Protesters out to ‘Block Everything’ in France, scores arrested
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Nearly 300 protesters were arrested across the country.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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NANTES/PARIS – Protesters across France disrupted traffic, burned rubbish bins and at times clashed with police on Sept 10, in a bid to “Block Everything” in a show of anger against President Emmanuel Macron, the political establishment and planned budget cuts.
Tens of thousands of security forces personnel who had been deployed across the country removed blockades quickly, officials said, meaning that France was, for now, not blocked despite some scuffles.
Nearly 300 protesters were arrested across the country.
Many demonstrators vented their anger against Mr Macron, who is already facing political turmoil after the parliamentary opposition united to defeat his government on Sept 8.
The President appointed one-time conservative Sebastien Lecornu, a close ally, as his new prime minister.
“It’s the same s**t, it’s the same; it’s Macron who’s the problem, not the ministers,” said a representative of the RATP public transport branch of the CGT union at a protest in Paris. “He has to go.”
In Paris, police fired tear gas on youth blocking the entrance to a high school and firefighters removed burnt objects from a barricade.
Police said they had stopped a group of about 1,000 protesters from entering the Gare du Nord train station in the city.
“I was expecting either a dissolution (of Parliament) or a left-wing prime minister, and we have neither; it’s frustrating,” said 18-year-old student Lisa Venier, who was among the protesters near the Gare du Nord.
Protesters torched a bus in the western city of Rennes, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau told reporters. He also said some protesters had attacked police with heavy cobblestones, but did not specify where.
Mr Retailleau warned that protest rallies scheduled for later in the day could be infiltrated by hardline, ultra-left groups and become violent.
The “Block Everything” movement – a broad expression of discontent that has no centralised leadership and is organised in ad hoc fashion on social media – sprung up online in May among right-wing groups, researchers and officials said, but has since been taken over by the left and far left.
The movement reflects popular discontent with what protesters deem a dysfunctional ruling elite preaching a painful gospel of austerity. It is drawing comparisons to the 2018 “Yellow Vest” protests, which arose over fuel price hikes but morphed into a broader movement against Mr Macron and his plans for economic reform.
Anger over budget cuts
A teacher taking part in the protests in Paris said he was against the budget cuts that then Prime Minister Francois Bayrou had planned and that led to his defeat in the parliamentary confidence vote on Sept 8.
“Bayrou was ousted, (now) his policies must be eliminated,” said teacher Christophe Lalande, calling for more funding for schools and hospitals.
At another protest in the city, unionist Amar Lagha said: “This day is a message to all the workers of this country: that there is no resignation, the fight continues.”
In the western city of Nantes, protesters blocked a highway with burning tyres and bins. Police used tear gas to disperse people trying to occupy a roundabout.
In Montpellier in the south-west, police fired tear gas at protesters who had set up a barricade to block traffic at a roundabout. Some of the protesters threw various objects at them. A large banner at the protest read: “Macron resign”.
Highway operator Vinci reported traffic disruptions on highways throughout the country, including Marseille, Montpellier, Nantes and Lyon.
About 50 hooded people tried to start a blockade in Bordeaux, while in Toulouse, in the south-west, a fire was quickly extinguished but still disrupted train traffic, Mr Retailleau told reporters.
He said 80,000 security forces personnel had been deployed throughout the country, including 6,000 in Paris.
French media had reported that 100,000 people were expected to take part in the demonstrations. REUTERS
