Nearly 200,000 people joined “Bloquons tout” (“Let’s stop everything”) protests across France against the government’s €44 billion austerity plan. The Interior Ministry said 675 people were detained, including 280 in Paris, during 596 demonstrations and 253 blockades.
Unions have called for new nationwide protests on September 18. The unrest comes after the fall of François Bayrou’s government, which lost a confidence vote, and the appointment of Sébastien Lecornu as prime minister.
The austerity plan includes spending cuts, pension freezes, reduced social benefits, and the removal of two public holidays, sparking widespread public anger.