80.000 members of the security forces have been deployed across France, of which 6.000 are in Paris, in an attempt by the authorities to suppress the great discontent of citizens that spilled into the streets.
Ministry of Interior France announced that during protest 473 people were arrested across the country, including 203 in Paris. According to the Ministry, 13 members of the security forces were slightly injured.
According to reports, at least 175.000 people participated in the protests, and 550 rallies were held across the country, reports Le Monde.
People have been arrested for blocking traffic, setting trash cans on fire and occasionally clashing with police in an attempt to "block everything" out of anger at the political class and planned welfare cuts.
Security forces have been deployed across the country to try to remove all blockades as soon as possible.
Many protesters took their anger out on French President Emmanuel Macron, who is facing political turmoil after the parliamentary opposition united on Monday to topple Francois Bayrou's government.
Oysters for the police, tear gas for the protesters
In Paris, police fired tear gas at young protesters blocking the entrance to a high school, and firefighters removed burnt items from the barricade.
Police said they prevented a large group of about a thousand protesters from entering a train station.
Interior Minister Bruno Retaggio told reporters that protesters set fire to a bus in the city of Reno and that some protesters attacked police with stones, but did not specify where, AP writes.
Retayo warned that the protest rallies scheduled for later on Wednesday could be infiltrated by hard-line, ultra-leftist groups and turn violent.
The Block All movement is a broad expression of dissatisfaction with no centralized leadership and ad hoc organization through social media. It appeared online in May among right-wing groups, but has since been picked up by the left and the far left.
Citizen dissatisfaction
Parliament ousted Prime Minister Franรงois Bayrou in a vote of confidence over his plans to tame the country's soaring debt. On Tuesday, Macron appointed his fifth prime minister in less than two years, choosing a close ally, Sรฉbastien Lecornu, infuriating left-wing politicians.
Teacher Christophe Lalande, who took part in the protests in Paris, said he was against the planned budget cuts of the ousted government.
"Bayrou has been overthrown and his policies must be eliminated," Lalande said, stressing that better funding for schools and hospitals is necessary.
At another protest in the city, trade unionist Amar Laga said: "This day is a message to all the workers of this country: there is no resignation, the fight continues, and the message to this government is that we will not give up, and if we have to die, we will die standing."
In Nantes, protesters blocked the highway with burning tires and trash cans. The police used tear gas to disperse the people who were trying to occupy the roundabout.
In Montpellier, the police dealt with protesters who set up a barricade to block traffic on the roundabout. The police used tear gas to disperse the protesters, some of whom threw various objects at them. Some protesters carried a banner that read: "Macron, resign."
Authorities reported traffic disruptions on highways across the country, including in Marseille, Montpellier, Nantes and Lyon.
About 50 people wearing hoods tried to start a blockade in Bordeaux, while in Toulouse the fire was quickly extinguished, but rail traffic was still disrupted, Interior Minister Retaillo told reporters.
Massive police intervention
He said 80.000 security forces were deployed across the country, including 6.000 in Paris. French media reported that 100.000 people were expected to take part in the demonstration.
The Block All movement reflects popular discontent with what protesters see as a dysfunctional ruling elite that preaches painful austerity. The movement has been compared to the "Yellow Vest" protests of 2018, which were organized over rising fuel prices but turned into a wider movement against Macron and his plans for economic reforms.
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