Paris protests against austerity

Paris (dpa) — Seventy-five people were arrested during anti-austerity protests in the Paris area early on Wednesday, according to the Paris police.

Media reports said there had been attempts to block a bus depot and blockades at secondary schools.

Citing police sources, the newspaper Le Parisien reported that around 1,000 demonstrators had been counted across France, with 10 road blockades estimated.

Protests were reported in numerous cities, including Bordeaux, Lyon and Marseille.

Paris protests against pension reforms in headline news & world news — Two demonstrators with a placard to protest against the pension reform. Demonstration against the pension reform project, organized by the trade unions of CGT, CFDT, FO, CFE-CGC, CFTC, UNSA, Solidaires and FSU. The Parisian procession leaves the Republic square at 1 p.m. to reach the Nation square, on February 11, 2023 in Paris. Photo by Christophe Michel / Abaca/Sipa USA(Sipa via AP Images)

The protests, held under the slogan “Block everything,” are primarily directed against long-announced austerity plans but follow the fall of the French government this week after a vote of no confidence.

Former defence minister Sébastien Lecornu has been appointed as the new prime minister by President Emmanuel Macron.

Authorities are on high alert amid the protests, with around 80,000 members of the security forces mobilized.

Among those who called the protests are left-wing groups and unions.