Thousands of people in France have gone out on the streets to show anger at the government and planned budget cuts. The protests are led by a group called Bloquons Tout (“Let’s Block Everything”).The protests started on the same day that Sébastien Lecornu became the new Prime Minister. His step into office comes just days after former Prime Minister François Bayrou resigned following a no-confidence vote.Large crowds gathered in Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux, and Montpellier. Protesters blocked main roads, set rubbish bins on fire, and shouted slogans against the government.Police tried to control the unrest, and by mid-morning, around 250 people had been arrested, according to outgoing Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau. The protests began because of a plan to cut €44 billion from the national budget. These cuts were first suggested by former Prime Minister Bayrou. Many people believe the cuts will hurt schools, hospitals, and public services.During the summer, the group Bloquons Tout gained strong support by asking people to stand against these budget changes. The movement says the government only cares about saving money and not about the struggles of normal people.Many French citizens say the political leaders are far from the real problems of daily life. Protesters carried banners saying that the rich and powerful do not understand how hard life is for ordinary families.In Paris, roads were blocked, and traffic came to a stop. In Marseille, there were clashes between protesters and police. Videos shared online showed crowds shouting and lighting fires in the streets.
For Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, this is a hard start. He now faces the challenge of calming the protests and listening to the people. Experts believe that unless the government changes its plan for budget cuts, the protests will grow stronger.The group Bloquons Tout has already called for more protests in the coming weeks. They say they will not stop until the €44 billion cuts are canceled.For now, France is facing a tense moment, with people saying loudly that they will not accept tough cuts to services they depend on.