France Plunged into Chaos as New Prime Minister Takes Office

France has been hit by a wave of nationwide protests and disruption as Sébastien Lecornu takes office as the country’s new prime minister. The unrest, marked by road blockades, clashes with police, and fires, erupted just as Lecornu was appointed by President Emmanuel Macron to replace François Bayrou.

Bayrou's government was ousted just days earlier after losing a no-confidence vote in parliament over a deeply unpopular €44 billion savings plan. The proposal, which included a freeze on government spending and cutting two public holidays, failed to gain enough support, forcing Bayrou to resign after only nine months in office.

In response to Lecornu's appointment and the wider political climate, protesters—many of whom were organized by the "Block Everything" movement on social media—took to the streets. The interior ministry deployed 80,000 police officers nationwide, leading to 295 arrests as demonstrators blocked key roads in cities like Paris, Nantes, and Bordeaux.

Protesters expressed profound anger and a sense of powerlessness, with many feeling that successive governments are not listening to the public. "What’s the point in voting?" asked one 29-year-old researcher, reflecting a widespread belief that the government is unresponsive to the people. A kindergarten teacher, striking for both social and economic reasons, denounced the budget as a "blow to the French state," arguing that it targets the poor while sparing the wealthy. The unrest is expected to escalate further with a larger nationwide strike and protest planned for September 18, when all French trade unions are set to join.