France is witnessing a significant surge of protests led by the grassroots movement 'Bloquons Tout' ('Let's Block Everything'), expressing anger over budget cuts proposed by the government. The protests coincide with the swearing-in of the new Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, who took over from François Bayrou following a no-confidence vote earlier this week. Demonstrators are blocking streets, setting bins on fire, and disrupting access to key infrastructure and schools nationwide. By mid-morning, around 250 arrests had been reported, according to outgoing Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, with incidents of violence noted, including a bus being torched in Rennes and sabotage of electric cables near Toulouse. Major cities like Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux, and Montpellier saw several thousand participants, although the scale of disruption remained relatively contained. In Paris, clashes outside Gare du Nord resulted in protesters wearing masks confronting police, who responded with tear gas. Many chanted slogans against President Emmanuel Macron and the newly appointed Lecornu, while some protesters carried placards denouncing the war in Gaza. The movement, which emerged on social media, gained momentum over the summer, especially opposing Bayrou's significant budget cuts. Demands from 'Bloquons Tout' include increased public service investment, higher taxes for the wealthy, and even the resignation of Macron. The protests reflect broader dissatisfaction with the government's management of the country's finances, which have reached a deficit of 5.8% of GDP. Lecornu's administration, already facing criticism from both the far left and far right, will have to navigate the complexities of a hung parliament while addressing the urgent needs of a divided populace. In his speech post-handover, Lecornu emphasized a need for stability and collaboration with opposition parties as he faces the challenge of presenting a budget that garners sufficient support.