As Block Everything protests intensify, France is in chaos; will Macron step down?

France Protests: Under the banner of the "Block Everything" campaign, demonstrators staged large-scale protests around France on Wednesday, blocking highways, starting fires, and engaging in combat with law enforcement. In images reminiscent of the chaos of the 2018 "Yellow Vest" rallies, protesters set garbage cans on fire, obstructed train movement, and took over roundabouts.With no centralized leadership and ad hoc organization through social media, the demonstration is a wide-ranging manifestation of dissatisfaction. Only two days after the fall of Prime Minister Francois Bayrou's administration, it erupted in the European nation. Following the overthrow of the government on Monday and the prompt appointment of his longtime supporter, Sebastien Lecornu, as the new prime minister, French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly orchestrated the protests through Telegram channels.As thousands of people flooded onto the streets during the initial hours of unrest, the Associated Press reported that almost 300 individuals were arrested. Police used tear gas to disperse demonstrators who set barricades on fire in Paris. A bus was set on fire in Rennes, according to Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, while train service in the southwest was suspended due to damage to a power line. Protesters, he said, were attempting to foster "a climate of insurrection."In an effort to stop the disturbance, the government of President Emmanuel Macron had sent out 80,000 police personnel nationwide. In spite of this, demonstrators set up barriers, started fires, and held protests in several locations.

In Paris, trash cans were set on fire, and commuters reported traffic jams on major roads.The demonstrations expanded to many cities throughout France. In Nantes, police used tear gas on groups attempting to take over traffic circles, and protesters stopped a highway with burning tires. In Montpellier, barricades were erected at roundabouts and then taken down during altercations with police. Train services were briefly interrupted by fires in Toulouse, and attempts were made to establish additional blockades in Bordeaux. Even while the "Block Everything" movement failed to completely paralyze the nation, it did create significant flashpoints that interfered with daily life, transportation, and commutes to and from work.Meanwhile, the newly appointed Prime Minister, Sebastien Lecornu promised a “profound break" with the past on Wednesday as he faced the thorny task of trying to build a government with enough parliamentary support to pull the country out of a political crisis. Lecornu, 39, promised to find “more creative" ways than before to work with opposition parties to try to build a stable government, news agency AFP reported. “We will get there," he said during a handover ceremony. Lecornu is the seventh prime minister since Macron took office in 2017 — and the third within the space of a year.