Paris carnage as riot cops clash with ‘Block Everything’ protesters

At least 75 people have been arrested in the capital, the French interior minister said, ‘The Sun’ quotes.

Around 100,000 campaigners are believed to be taking part in the protests, local media reports.

Shocking footage showed balaclava-clad demonstrators setting up barricades to block road intersections nationwide – including Bordeaux, Marseille, Rennes and others.

Severe traffic has built up on highways between major cities as the country grinds to a halt.

Cops were seen dispersing protesters with tear gas as firefighters worked tirelessly to extinguish raging infernos.

Meanwhile in the capital, frenzied demonstrators launched rubbish bins and flares at police officers as the chaos spiralled out of control.

A police spokesperson in Paris said: "Most of those taken into custody were threatening public order.

"Many more are expected to gather as the day progresses."

The insurrection came less than 24 hours after Macron appointed his seventh prime minister in less than nine years.

France plunges into political chaos AGAIN as yet another of bungling Macron’s PMs loses confidence vote amid debt crisis.
Photo: AP

Sebastien Lecornu pledged to do a better job than his immediate predecessor, Francois Bayrou - who was sensationally forced out in a confidence motion on Monday.

Bayrou was ousted after he tried to slash some £38billion from public spending in an unpopular austerity measure in an attempt to combat skyrocketing national debt.

Some 80,000 police and gendarmes have been deployed across France to deal with the spiralling "Block Everything" campaign.

The protest movement was formed on social media and is supported by the largest trade union in the country, the Confederation of General Workers (CGT).

They are also trying to blockade fuel depots, slow down cars and demonstrate in city and town centres.

Some online posts have even encouraged people to loot supermarkets as part of the protests.

The astonishing scenes have drawn comparison to the inafmous Gilets Jaunes (Yellow Vests) movement, which previously forced Macron into several policy changes.

A major railway union called Sud-Raid said: "The fall of the government is good, but it’s insufficient."

AS France spirals into political chaos, the "Block Everything" campaign is now looking to bring the country to a standstill.

The movement, which translates to "Bloquons Tous" in French, was born out of outgoing Prime Minister Francois Bayrou's draft austerity budget.

The controversial bill proposed scrapping two national holidays, freezing pensions and cutting over £4billion from health spending.

In total, it planned to slash some £38billion from public spending in an attempt to combat ballooning debt.

The "Block Everything" movement has vowed to shut down France in response, by paralysing its transport links and stirring up widespread chaos.

The campaign launched in July this year, immediately drawing comparisons to the 2018-2019 Yellow Vests – meaning Gilets Jaunes – movement, which first brewed over fuel taxes.

Most supporters of the "Block Everything" campaign are on the left or extreme left, research shows, as opposed to the Yellow Vests who claimed to be apolitical.

Protesters have set up road blocks, caused disruption at rail hubs and called for crippling strikes to bring the country to a halt.

Social media posts rallying protesters together have in some cases called for looting and attacks on "ultra-rich capitalists", France 24 reports.

There have also been calls for further strikes and stoppages on September 18 including air traffic controllers.

The Palace said the president wants his new prime minister to hold talks with all parliamentary opponents to find compromises on the budget.

It added that other policies would also need to be agreed on before naming the new cabinet.

French Prime Ministers get appointed by the President and then are tasked with forming a government.

Macron could call another snap parliamentary election, but many observers believe this is unlikely.

It comes as extremist parties continue to put pressure on France's political establishment.

Far-right figurehead Marine Le Pen said: "This crisis was provoked and fuelled by Macron and all those who have served him.

"Today, because of them, France is the sick man of Europe."

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