An online group is calling for a complete and unlimited shutdown of France in September to protest against the government’s “austerity policy”.
The mobilisation10septembre (protest10september) group wants a “total and indefinite shutdown” of France from September 10, 2025.
It will be “a peaceful action to denounce injustices and collectively regain power,” it claimed on its website.
The Connexion answers eight questions regarding the mysterious blockade movement.
Why is the group calling for a shutdown?
The group was formed in response to the budget plan announced by PM Bayrou on July 15.
The plan includes scrapping two public holidays (Easter Monday and May 8, VE Day) in a bid to save an overall €43.8 billion and reduce the public deficit to 4.6% in 2026.
It would need to be approved by the French parliament, but has already faced criticism, with some French newspapers asking if it could spark fresh gilets jaunes (yellow vest) protests.
The gilets jaunes protests were a series of grassroots, weekly protests that took place in France between 2018 and 2020, sparked by a rise in fuel taxes.
“Stop austerity, Bayrou! The government is sacrificing our rights: two public holidays have been cancelled, massive cuts to healthcare, pension freezes, and thousands of public sector job cuts,” mobilisation10september wrote on its website.
“This unjust plan hits the most vulnerable and destroys our essential services. Another policy is possible: one of solidarity, fairness, and humanity.”
“This movement was born because we are fed up... Fed up with seeing Bayrou destroy what remains of justice and solidarity.”
What does the group hope to achieve?
Communications from the group's website state the aim of the shutdown is to insist on government action addressing the following demands:
- Make substantial reinvestment in public services including health, education, public transport and the justice system.
- Put a stop to job cuts and "inhumane" budgetary measures.
- Develop an accessible health service for all, without "unfair" insurance excess.
- Keep all public holidays in place.
- Revaluate minimum social pensions and salaries.
Who is behind the movement?
Little is known about the members of the group behind the calls for a shutdown.
Several choose to remain anonymous however there are around 20 core members, according to French media reports. They met on social media and describe themselves as “apolitical”.
A member of the group told Le Parisien they were not aligned with any political party, and while the movement does not appear to be aligned with any unions, many unions have criticised the budget plan.
In a petition launched on July 22, unions including CGT, CFDT and FO criticised the “unspeakable brutality” of the plan.
How does the group operate?
The group launched a website on July 19, however, since July 29 the site appears to have been taken down. Clicking on the link now leads to an error message reading: "The authors have deleted this site."
This is also the case regarding the group's social media accounts. Messages were previously posted on X and Instagram under the username @bloquonstout (block everything).
Group members are yet to clarify whether the deletion of their online presence was a deliberate decision or technical error.
Despite this, the movement still appears to be gaining momentum, with supporters attending a physical gathering in Paris on Monday (July 28). Around 50 people met in the Buttes-Chaumont park after organising the rendez-vous via encrypted messaging platform, Telegram, reported FranceInfo. The group is planning to meet again at the end of August.
What is the significance of the blockade date?
The group said it chose September 10 as the date for the blockade because it coincides with the "start of the social year, the moment when everything restarts."
By refusing to "power the machine that is crushing us," the group claims that September 10 could be "a date that changes everything."
What are they calling for?
The group is calling for a “complete shutdown” of France from September 10, but what exactly does that mean?
It is calling for action in three main areas.
Boycott
The group describes boycotting as a “simple but powerful weapon”. It encourages people to:
Boycott supermarkets “that benefit from reduced social security contributions and government aid while squeezing employees such as Carrefour, Auchan and Amazon.
Withdraw money from major banks “that are complicit in speculation and social undermining policies”, such as BNP Paribas and Société Générale, and invest it in cooperative or local banks.
Refuse to consume “what fuels the system” including gasoline, fast fashion and “predatory digital platforms” such as Uber and Deliveroo.
Stop working whenever possible: take time off, file sick leave, voluntarily slow down production.
Suspend symbolic payments: no longer validate your transport tickets, symbolically delay your taxes to denounce their unfair use.
Support short supply chains: buy local, trade, share, and manage among citizens.
Civil disobedience
The group says that “refusing to obey unfair rules is legitimate”. It gives examples including:
Withholding or slowdown in public services e.g. striking in healthcare, education and transport
Peaceful occupation of public buildings such as town halls
Targeted blockades e.g. of roads
Citizen solidarity
Protesting together is key, the movement says: “This movement will only last if we support each other, concretely, day after day. Solidarity is not a slogan: it's a tool for survival and reconstruction.” It gives examples including:
Where will the action take place?
The group hopes for country-wide action. Prior to the site's removal an interactive map had been published on its website detailing organised gatherings.
Cities where events are anticipated on September 10 include: Amiens, Angers, Avignon, Besançon, Bordeaux, Brest, Clermont-Ferrand, Dijon, Grenoble, Le Mans, Lille, Limoges, Lyon, Marseille, Metz, Montpellier, Nancy, Nice, Orléans, Pau, Poitiers, Reims, Rennes, Strasbourg, Toulouse, Troyes, and Valenciennes.
Strategic blockades were also pinpointed on the map, notably at the Port du Havre and petrol stations in the Île-de-France region.
How much support does the movement have?
The movement is in its early days. It had almost 800 followers on the social network X before the account was deleted.
A Telegram discussion channel called Bloquons Tout ! - 10 septembre 2025 - Organisation had nearly 2,800 members on July 25, reported FranceInfo.
The group is also receiving media attention in France.
Polling suggests the majority of French people may be resigned to the budget plan, yet other polls point to a deep dissatisfaction with PM Bayrou himself.
An Ifop poll for LCI showed the majority of French people (57%) thought Bayrou’s budget plan was “necessary” but just 28% of people thought that the plan was “fair”.
However another poll, by Ipsos for RTL conducted after the budget announcement, found PM Bayrou’s popularity rating had dropped to 20% and 59% of people wanted a new prime minister.
