What France protests are about? Macron picks fifth PM in two years as protesters 'Block Everything'

About 200 people were arrested on Wednesday by police in France amid nationwide demonstrations. The country has been in chaos after Prime Minister Francois Bayrou was defeated with a no-confidence vote at the National Assembly over his plans to control the debt. President Emmanuel Macron, who was tasked with naming the country’s fifth prime minister in two years, picked Sébastien Lecornu, a close ally and the country’s defence minister.

The choice had outraged left-wing politicians.

Immediately after his appointment, Macron told Lecornu  "to consult the political forces represented in parliament with a view to adopting a budget for the nation and making the agreements essential for the decisions of the coming months."

The country sees high borrowing costs and is in debt. Bayrou was ousted while trying to deal with its budget deficit, the highest in Europe.

The Block Everything protests

Demonstrators took to the streets across France on Wednesday, aiming to ‘Block Everything’. The anger was directed towards the politicians and the planned budget cuts, policies which were drafted by the now ousted PM Bayrou.

Widespread disruptions followed as protesters stopped highway traffic, trains, and set a bus on fire. Security forces, which included 80,000 police officers, were deployed across the country to remove the blocks. About 200 protesters were arrested in the process.

The block everything movement was initially started online by a rightwing group, according to researchers, but was taken over by the left and the far left.

The protesters took out their anger on Macron. "The ministers, it's a problem, but it's more Macron and his way of working, which means he has to go," Fred, a representative for the RATP public transport branch of the CGT union, said while speaking to Reuters. Opposition parties said that Macron's choosing another loyalist has increased frustration among voters.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the far-left France Unbowed, said on social media, “Only the departure of Macron himself can put an end to this sad comedy of contempt for the Parliament, voters, and political decency.”

Far-right politicians also joined in to criticise the president. Jordan Bardella, leader of the National Rally, said, “Emmanuel Macron's motto: you don't change a losing team.”

What can Lecornu do?

Bayrou lost the Parliamentary confidence vote after announcing a list of measures to rein in the debt, including cutting public holidays and freezing pensions.

It's now upto Lecornu to appease the public dissatisfaction and the scrutiny of the hard left, who seek to topple him.

Lecornu has to send in a full draft of the 2026 budget by October 7 to the parliament, and to get it passed, will have to unite the socialists who want to tax the rich, with the right-wing party National Rally, which does not want tax rises.

Daniel Bretones, a union member protesting in Marseille, said, "We're on the fifth prime minister under Macron's second term, and it has never changed anything."

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