Wide and disparate anti-tax movement garners increased concern among historians, as expressed by Eric Anceau.
In late summer 2025, France is experiencing an unprecedented anti-tax movement. The movement, known as 'Block Everything', took place on September 10th, and saw a significant number of French people take to the streets.
The slogan 'It's Nicolas who pays' has been spreading on social media since April, and it is popular among right and far-right circles, protesting high taxes and state waste. This slogan is a clear indication of the discontent among the French populace, who feel burdened by the current tax system.
The 'Block Everything' movement is unique due to its diversity, reflecting the contradictory aspirations of French society. This diversity is a stark contrast to the past, when anti-tax revolts were a common occurrence in France before the 1789 Revolution.
The political crisis in France includes a weakened President, a resigned government, and an unfindable majority in the National Assembly. This political instability has only served to fuel the anti-tax sentiments, as many feel that their voices are not being heard.
A deep historical analysis of the current situation reveals its underlying causes, uniqueness, and dangers. For instance, the principle of fiscal equality was established in France in 1789 with the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. However, the royal power arbitrarily increased taxes or created new ones during various anti-tax revolts, such as the Rouen Harelle during the Hundred Years' War, the 'red caps' Bretons under Louis XIV, the croquants, and the 'barefoot' under Louis XIII.
The Revolutionaries in 1789 aimed to end the historical pattern of anti-tax revolts in France. The Constitution of 1791 in France established the principle of consent to taxation. This principle has been a cornerstone of the French tax system for centuries, but it seems that the current anti-tax movement is more worrying than usual due to its scale.
Many French people took to the streets on September 18th, at the call of unions, left, and far-left parties. These protests opposed the 2026 budget project and demanded that the rich pay more taxes. It remains to be seen how the French government will respond to these demands and whether the 'Block Everything' movement will continue to gather momentum.
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