Authorities deployed 80,000 police, who made hundreds of arrests and fired tear gas to disperse crowds early Wednesday. The unrest adds to turmoil after the government collapsed over proposed budget cuts.

French police arrested at least 295 protesters during nationwide "Block Everything" demonstrations against President Macron's policies and budget cuts.

Protests in Paris and across France, venting anger at President Emmanuel Macron's government, see nearly 200 people arrested as fires are set in the capital.

Protesters at times clashed with police in a bid to "Block Everything" in anger at the political class and planned budget cuts.

Foreign nationals are blamed for the incident, which has striking similarities with other recent provocations.

France's finances and politics are in turmoil. President Emmanuel Macron has just appointed his fourth prime minister in 12 months, the deficit is out of control, borrowing costs are rising and parliament can’t muster a majority to tackle spending.

The French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has condemned the latest arson attack against a church in northern France, saying there is "exponential violence targeting Catholics" and accusing her opponents of silence.

Germany's government has decided to back a France-led proposal for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the plan.