Overview

• Authorities deployed about 80,000 police as largely leaderless ‘Block Everything’ actions produced scattered blockades, clashes and property damage across multiple cities.
• Hundreds were arrested during the unrest, with incidents including a bus set on fire in Rennes and rail disruptions after damage to an electrical line in the southwest.
• Disruption was uneven as high‑speed trains and most Paris metro services operated, while regional rail, suburban lines and flights at Charles‑de‑Gaulle and Orly saw delays and cancellations.
• The protests followed the ouster of François Bayrou over roughly €44 billion in 2026 spending cuts, as new Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, 39, pledged a “profound break” and a more creative approach.
• Parliamentary arithmetic remains uncertain, with France Unbowed promising an immediate no‑confidence motion, the National Rally signaling conditional cooperation, and Socialists leaving the door open to talks tied to their priorities.