Anti-Government Protests Erupt Across France

Paris: Youth protests have erupted across France in response to President Emmanuel Macron appointing his preferred candidate as the new Prime Minister.

In Paris and other parts of the country, protesters blocked roads and set vehicles on fire. In the southern regions, train services were disrupted. Police used tear gas, and clashes broke out in several areas. Over 200 protesters have been arrested, and hundreds have been injured.

Sebastien Lecornu was sworn in as France’s fifth Prime Minister in just 20 months. This appointment came hours after the previous Prime Minister, Francois Bayrou, who had been in office for nine months, lost a confidence vote. Macron’s decision to bypass the leader of the left-wing coalition, which had won the July 2024 interim elections, has been a major factor in France’s current political crisis.

By appointing Lecornu, seen as a corporate-aligned candidate with far-right support, Macron has deepened the country’s political turmoil. Protests against his government, driven by public concerns such as inflation and unemployment, have been ongoing for 13 weeks. The government and police are actively trying to suppress the demonstrations.