French police arrest 75 as anti-austerity protests sweep major cities

At least 75 people were arrested in the Paris region on Wednesday as anti-austerity protests flared across France, the Paris Police have confirmed.

The demonstrations, which began in the early hours, saw attempts to block a bus depot and several secondary schools in the capital. According to Le Parisien, citing police sources, more than 1,000 demonstrators were mobilised nationwide, with around 10 road blockades reported.

The protests, organised under the slogan “Block Everything”, were spearheaded by left-wing groups and trade unions opposed to the government’s austerity measures. Demonstrations were staged in several major cities, including Bordeaux, Lyon, and Marseille, disrupting traffic and public services.

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Authorities had prepared extensively for unrest, deploying approximately 80,000 security personnel across the country to contain potential flashpoints.

While the protests were largely aimed at the government’s long-planned austerity programme, they also took on a heightened political dimension following the dramatic collapse of the French government earlier this week after a successful vote of no confidence in parliament.

In a swift move to restore stability, President Emmanuel Macron appointed former defence minister Sébastien Lecornu as the new Prime Minister, replacing the ousted government.

The latest unrest underscores the mounting political and social tension in France, with analysts warning that austerity policies combined with political instability could deepen public discontent in the coming weeks.