It’s been a dramatic week in France with the fall of another government, a nationwide day of blockage, a few fires and a new prime minister. But in between it all, we’ve also found time for some French pleasures – here’s what we have been talking about in France this week.
Inside France is our weekly look at some of the news, talking points and gossip in France that you might not have heard about. It’s published each Saturday and members can receive it directly to their inbox, by going to their newsletter preferences or adding their email to the sign-up box in this article.
To the barricades
As a journalist, you get some weeks that are a bit quiet and others which are . . . less so. This week has definitely been one of the latter; on Monday the French government collapsed, on Tuesday evening Emmanuel Macron named his new prime minister and on Wednesday the country erupted into a (pre-planned) day of blockades, demos, strikes and setting bins on fire.
In the end the Bloquons Tout day was less violent than many had feared (and it now seems that the Korean restaurant pictured ablaze in Paris was accidentally set on fire by a police grenade, rather than by protesters) but it did attract a lot of people into the street – an estimated 200,000 across France, which is a lot, especially for this type of unofficial demo.
We’re now briefly drawing breath before next week’s mass strike day – this is a traditional, union-organised strike, so it is likely to see a lot more disruption, especially on the transport networks, but less in the way of spontaneous and unpredictable actions like roadblocks or station ‘invasions’.
READ ALSO: What to expect on France’s September 18 strike day
With all this, it’s perhaps unsurprising that some – especially outside France – are asking; Has the country simply become ungovernable?
My own opinion is that it isn’t – although it might perhaps be unreformable due to the parliamentary blockade – and in the context of its history, this isn’t even an especially turbulent period.
None of this is to downplay the very real problems – especially economic ones – that France faces, but whatever drama is erupting, life goes on and (the sure marker of any functioning society) the bins still get emptied.
You may remember a video that went viral during the 2023 pension protests, of a couple sitting en terrasse having a drink and a chat and completely ignoring the small fire in the background, set during an earlier protest.
C’est tellement romantique…🔥#DarmaninDemission #manif23mars pic.twitter.com/tMDttkGPB0
— Le DéCaLé (@ledecaledu25) March 25, 2023
That, to me, seems a perfect symbol of how most of France continues as usual during these dramatic events. On the evening of the Bloquons Tout protests I decided to walk the long way home, through central Paris.
République was noisy but not violent, with thousands of demonstrators and almost as many police officers in riot gear and Châtelet was rammed with protesters with many side streets closed off. But in between these two sites shops were open, cafés were busy with people enjoying an early evening drink, a queue was building outside the cinema and population went about its business, blithely unconcerned.
I stopped off at the boulangerie and the man in front of me couldn’t get his card to swipe – the boulanger suggested that maybe the card machine was en grève (on strike) or had joined the Bloquons Tout protest. We laughed and another French protest day ended.
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Talking France
Due to all the political drama, we did a special episode of the Talking France podcast. It was recorded before the new prime minister was announced, but we’re also taking a longer look at what happens next for politicians and whether we will see another government fall before the end of the year. Listen here or on the link below.
Call me, maybe
In the thick of the political chaos, I was surprised to get the below notification saying ‘Gabriel Attal appelle Emma’.
Screenshot: The Local
In the end, of course, former prime minister Attal was actually calling Emma … nuel Macron. I do not have the answers to France’s current political conundrum – but it seems like no-one else does either so maybe politicians will be reduced to phoning random members of the public before too long?
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Lettuce be friends
There seems to be a bit of mockery of France coming from our neighbours across the Channel. Although if you want a handy way to remember how long Michel Barnier (the shortest-serving Prime Minister of the Fifth Republic so far) lasted it was 90 days – or two Liz Trusses.
From today’s @financialtimes.com #france
— Banx (@banxtoons.bsky.social) September 11, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Inside France is our weekly look at some of the news, talking points and gossip in France that you might not have heard about. It’s published each Saturday and members can receive it directly to their inbox, by going to their newsletter preferences or adding their email to the sign-up box in this article.
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