French streets descended into violent confrontations on Wednesday as riot police launched tear gas canisters at demonstrators during nationwide protests that saw burning barricades and mass arrests.

Dramatic scenes unfolded across multiple cities as security forces clashed with protesters attempting to paralyse the country through their "Block Everything" campaign.

Officers in riot gear confronted crowds who set fire to bins and tyres whilst establishing roadblocks on major thoroughfares.

The capital witnessed particularly intense confrontations, with 132 individuals detained as students erected flaming barriers near educational institutions

Officers in riot gear confronted crowds who set fire to bins and tyres whilst establishing roadblocks on major thoroughfares.

In Montpellier, demonstrators hurled projectiles at police who responded with tear gas volleys to scatter crowds occupying a traffic junction.

Similar confrontations erupted in Nantes, where protesters ignited tyres and waste containers to obstruct a motorway before officers deployed chemical agents to clear the area.

The widespread unrest brought major transport routes to a standstill as demonstrators torched rubbish receptacles and established blockades throughout France.

Motorway operator Vinci confirmed protest-related traffic chaos affecting routes connecting Marseille, Lyon, Nantes and Montpellier.

Firefighters in Paris worked to clear charred debris from student-erected barriers that had paralysed traffic near a secondary school.

In Bordeaux, approximately fifty masked individuals attempted to establish a roadblock, whilst rail services in Toulouse faced delays after protesters ignited a blaze.

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau confirmed that 80,000 security personnel had been mobilised nationwide, with 6,000 concentrated in the capital alone.

French media outlets had anticipated participation from roughly 100,000 demonstrators in the coordinated action.

Despite the scale of disruption, authorities maintained that rapid intervention by security forces had prevented the complete paralysis protesters sought to achieve.

The demonstrations erupted amid severe political instability, occurring merely two days after legislators removed Prime Minister Francois Bayrou through a no-confidence motion triggered by his debt-reduction proposals.

Riot police threw tear gas at the protesters

President Emmanuel Macron subsequently installed Sebastien Lecornu, a close associate, as his fifth premier in under 24 months, a decision that infuriated left-wing politicians.

Fred, a CGT union official representing public transport workers, declared at a Paris demonstration: "It's the same s**t, it's the same, it's Macron who's the problem, not the ministers."

He added: "The ministers, it's a problem, but it's more Macron and his way of working, which means he has to go."

Protesters carried placards demanding "Macron resign" as they expressed fury at what they perceive as an ineffective political establishment imposing harsh austerity measures.