In France, due to the political crisis, massive nationwide protests broke out under the slogan Bloquons tout (“Let’s block everything”). The participants of the actions block the roads, which caused serious disruptions in transport. Clashes with the police took place in major cities, as a result of which hundreds of people were detained. This is reported by BFM TV.
The protest is a response to the deepening of the political crisis and the “policy of tightening the belts” of the government. The Bloquons tout movement emerged on social networks as a spontaneous initiative and called for a large-scale blockade of the country.
The actions are taking place in protest against the government’s austerity measures, which include freezing pensions and cutting budget spending. The change of the prime minister and the appointment to this position of a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron, former defense minister Sebastien Lecorne, caused particular indignation.
According to government sources, 80,000 police officers have been deployed across the country. The Ministry of the Interior of France reported that at least 175,000 people joined the “Block Everything” movement today, and 550 rallies were held. A total of 473 protesters were detained, almost half of them – 203 people – in Paris.
Mass demonstrations significantly complicated everyday life. Protesters blocked roads and set garbage cans on fire, which led to traffic jams and forced police to use tear gas. Several metro stations and suburban train lines were temporarily closed in Paris. Clashes also took place in Marseille, Nantes and Lyon.
