France: Blockades and protests against austerity measures – difficult start for Prime Minister Lecornu
France's new Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is having a difficult start in office. Protesters across the country are blocking roads and demanding an end to the austerity measures.
France's new Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is already under massive pressure on his first day in office. Protests against the government's announced austerity measures began across the country overnight and Wednesday morning. Under the slogan "Bloquons tout" ("Let's block everything"), left-wing groups, unions, and even former Yellow Vest activists called for nationwide blockades.
Roads, train stations, airports affectedAccording to authorities, disruptions occurred in several major cities: In Paris, demonstrators blocked sections of the city ring road with barricades and smoke flares, including at the Porte de la Chapelle and the Porte de Montreuil. The operation of a bus depot in the 18th arrondissement was also disrupted, and police used tear gas.
In Lyon, protesters blocked traffic on the M7 motorway, and in Bordeaux, activists temporarily paralyzed a tram depot. In Poitiers, demonstrators blocked the A10 motorway, bringing traffic to a complete standstill. In Toulouse, the railway reported a cable fire that paralyzed train service toward Auch. Road blockades also occurred in Gironde and other regions.
The French railway company SNCF warned of restrictions on regional services, and the German Air Force (DGAC) warned of delays at airports. Commuters in Bordeaux and Lyon had to endure long traffic jams this morning.
80,000 police officers on dutyInterior Minister Bruno Retailleau announced the deployment of 80,000 police officers and gendarmes nationwide. Security forces had already been put on alert overnight to clear blockades and prevent acts of sabotage. Retailleau spoke on Wednesday morning of "instrumentalization by the ultra-left" and warned of an "ultraviolent" movement.
The protests are a reaction to the government's budget plans. Lecornu's predecessor, François Bayrou, was ousted on Monday after only nine months in office following a lost vote of confidence. Bayrou had proposed a strict austerity program to consolidate public finances. Lecornu must now negotiate a new budget with the deeply divided factions in the National Assembly – Macron's center-right, Marine Le Pen's right-wing nationalist party, and the left-wing camp.
The 38-year-old is considered a confidant of President Emmanuel Macron , was previously Minister of Defense, and is reputed to be in talks with Le Pen. Whether he can overcome the entrenched positions in parliament remains unclear. Opposition parties have already reacted negatively.
Pressure on Macron growsNot only Lecornu, but also Macron himself is the focus of the protests. The left-wing party LFI is demanding his resignation, while right-wing nationalist forces are pushing for a dissolution of parliament. Macron's appointment of a new prime minister immediately after Bayrou's ouster is seen by observers as an attempt to get himself out of the firing line.
Further strikes announcedIndependently of Wednesday's blockades, the unions have called for nationwide strikes and demonstrations against the austerity measures on September 18. According to the Solidaires union, the protests are intended to be "permanent" – with regular strikes and rallies in factories and universities. (with dpa)
Berliner-zeitung
