France, Sept. 10 -- Nearly 200 people were arrested in France early Wednesday as "Block Everything" demonstrations disrupted transport and public services in cities across the country. The unrest comes as Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu was to be sworn in as France's fifth prime minister in under two years.

Lecornu, 39, was named by President Emmanuel Macron late Tuesday after the resignation of Francois Bayrou, who lost a confidence vote in parliament. The formal handover between the two men was to take place at midday.

In his first statement after being appointed, Lecornu wrote on X that Macron had asked him to form a government with "a clear direction: the defence of our independence and power, serving the French people and mainta...