PARIS – As September 10, 2025, approaches, France is bracing for potential widespread disruptions spurred by the “Blocons-Tout” (Let’s Block Everything) collective. While the Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, anticipates “stunning actions” rather than a “large-scale movement,” authorities are taking the threat seriously, preparing to counter any attempts to paralyze the country’s vital infrastructure.
The call for mobilization on September 10 gained momentum following budgetary announcements by François Bayrou in mid-July. The movement, fueled by discontent over perceived injustices and austerity measures, has garnered support from left-wing political parties and some unions, including the CGT, South, and Confederation Paysanne.
Retailleau has issued directives to prefects,emphasizing the need to prevent and swiftly dismantle any blockades targeting essential infrastructure such as train stations,ports,airports,public transportation,major roadways,petroleum depots,logistics platforms,power plants,waste incineration facilities,water treatment sites,and key supply centers like the Rungis national market. The minister has also vowed to systematically arrest and prosecute anyone involved in damaging public buildings.
Institutions deemed vulnerable will receive heightened security, particularly those symbolizing capitalism or at risk of vandalism, such as road radars. The plan involves “gridding the public road” and monitoring strategic points identified by intelligence services to ensure a rapid response.
The September 10 movement, organized online, echoes the Yellow Vests movement of 2018, employing similar tactics of blockades and decentralized mobilization. While the movement lacks a clearly defined leadership, local collectives are driving the organization through encrypted messaging platforms like Telegram and Signal.
Mobilization efforts are underway across France, wiht demonstrations and blockades planned in major cities and smaller towns. Strategic locations such as the port of Le Havre, refineries in Ile-de-France, and oil depots in various regions are potential targets.
The movement is expected to manifest through blockades and occupations of places, rather than customary demonstrations. Targets include shopping centers, warehouses, universities, airports, and train stations.
The “Blocons-tout” collective advocates for a “total stop of the country” through boycott, disobedience, and citizen solidarity. This includes boycotting supermarkets, withdrawing money from banks, limiting consumption, and taking time off work. Disobedience involves refusing certain obligations, slowing down public services, occupying symbolic places, and implementing targeted blockades. Citizen solidarity is encouraged through local support networks, shared meals, and community coordination.
“Any attempt to block the infrastructure essential to the life of the nation must be hampered upstream.”
“Any attempt to block the infrastructure essential to the life of the nation must be hampered upstream.”
A recent survey indicates that 63% of respondents support the movement, particularly those aligned with environmentalist, rebellious, and extreme-right ideologies. Though, only 58% favor blocking the country, while 70% prefer demonstrations.
Authorities estimate that around 100,000 people may participate nationwide. The potential resignation of the government has further galvanized protesters, and the movement has attracted anti-government activists, pro-Palestinian advocates, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
the lack of structured coordination and identified leadership raises concerns about the potential for disorganized and unpredictable actions, increasing the risk of involvement by radical and violent groups.
Retailleau has instructed all prefects to prevent any attempts to block infrastructure and to anticipate actions targeting sensitive sites such as stations, airports, oil depots, power plants, and universities.
On September 5, Retailleau stated, “We must be able to express exasperation in France, we must be able to express calmly without blocking the country. This instruction of ‘blocking everything’ is stupid.”
Territorial information estimates the number of participants at 100,000, a figure the Prime Minister considers low. Le Figaro recalls that the last mobilization against pension reform saw over 280,000 demonstrators in June 2023.Authorities anticipate blockages of stations, refineries, and traffic areas, as well as sabotage of automatic radars and classic events. the intelligence services are particularly concerned about the decentralized nature of the movement.
During a trip on September 5, Retailleau said he did not believe “in large-scale movements” for the September 10 blocking, considering that “the movement has leftized” and fearing “spectacular actions.” He has asked the prefects to “show the greatest firmness,” warning that “there is no question of strategic sites, infrastructure essential to the life of the country can be blocked.”
In Lyon, a “rally in the morning in one of the main places in the city” is scheduled, while in Paris, potential actions are more vague. In montpellier, “It truly seems that there will be blockages in the morning, then a rally in the afternoon to count and finally an GA.”
