French authorities have detained 675 people during nationwide blockade protests, with 280 arrested in Paris alone. Clashes with police erupted across the country, but efforts to block roads, rail stations, schools, and bus depots largely failed. Police vow to maintain strict measures against further disruptions. Labor unions have called another protest for September 18, while tensions stem from former PM François Bayrou’s 2026 budget plan, which proposes €44 billion in savings to reduce France’s national debt, rejected in a recent confidence vote.