Protesters out to 'Block Everything' in France; scores held

They cause chaos in show of anger against political establishment, planned budget cuts

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NANTES/PARIS — Protesters across France disrupted traffic, burned rubbish bins and at times clashed with police on Sept 10, in a bid to "Block Everything" in a show of anger against President Emmanuel Macron, the political establishment and planned budget cuts.

Tens of thousands of security forces personnel who had been deployed across the country removed blockades quickly, officials said, meaning that France was, for now, not blocked despite some scuffles.

Nearly 300 protesters were arrested across the country.

Many demonstrators vented their anger against Mr Macron, who is already facing political turmoil after the parliamentary opposition united to defeat his government on Sept 8.

The President appointed one-time conservative Sebastien Lecornu, a close ally, as his new prime minister. He took office on Sept 10 facing the same challenge to rein in France's ballooning debt as his predecessor.

"It's the same s**t, it's the same; it's Macron who's the problem, not the ministers," said a representative of the RATP public transport branch of the CGT union at a protest in Paris. "He has to go."