New French PM to take office with ‘Block Everything’ protests already under way – Europe live

 

Opening summary: New French PM to take office as country braces for 'block everything' protests

France’s new prime minister Sébastien Lecornu takes office on Wednesday with the country facing a day of protests that are expected to see disruption to transport, education and other services in a show of grassroots anger against president Emmanuel Macron.

As Agence France-Presse reports, the protests – led by a loose left-wing collective called ‘block everything’ – could be a baptism of fire for Lecornu, 39, a close ally of Macron who has served the last three years as defence minister. 

 

 Meanwhile, Reuters reports that disruption has already started. Interior minister Bruno Retailleau told reporters early on Wednesday that about 50 hooded people had tried to start a blockade in Bordeaux, while in Toulouse, a cable fire that had been stopped quickly had still managed to disrupt traffic between Toulouse and Auch in south-western France. 

 

 Elsewhere, Vinci, a highway operator, reported protests and traffic disruptions on highways throughout France, including Marseille, Montpellier, Nantes and Lyon. Retailleau said 80,000 security forces had been deployed throughout the country, including 6,000 in Paris. French media had reported that 100,000 people were expected to participate in the demonstrations.   

 https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/sep/10/france-block-everything-protests-macron-lecornu-europe-live-news-updates