French Prime Minister Lecornu addressed the parliament on Tuesday, condemning the level of violence seen during recent student-led protests in France. At least 215 students and 715 police officers have been injured since the start of the movement. Lecornu stated that ultra-violence has arrived at the doorstep of high schools and must be unconditionally condemned. He emphasized that in a functioning democracy, there cannot be any room for tolerance of violence.
The student protests, which began as a demand for more education funding, have escalated into widespread demonstrations across France. Tens of thousands of demonstrators marched in cities across the country, with 256,000 participants reported by the Interior Ministry. The student union organisers claim that 450,000 people, including 100,000 in Paris, have participated in the protests. Riot police used water cannons to disperse students during a protest in Rennes, and clashes were reported in Lyon and Strasbourg.
The protests have disrupted high school education, with 891 high schools out of 3,700 across France having their lessons suspended, either completely or partially. The French education ministry attributed the suspensions to various reasons. Lecornu accused the hard-left party France Unbowed (LFI) of having a political agenda to throw the country into chaos ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
In response to accusations of police violence, Lecornu denied the existence of political directives for police repression. He stated that suggesting police violence would imply a slur on the Republic's police force. Lecornu announced the suspension of high school classes at the end of the week to organise a period of internal democracy with students.
Education Minister Edouard Geffray launched an online consultation platform for high school students on Monday, which will be available until 23 October. Geffray stated that he is addressing the demands of the protestors, including replacement teachers, and will deliver a response by next week. Paris's socialist mayor, Emmanuel Grégoire, said the capital's town halls are expected to open their doors for high school students to gather, debate, and democratically organise their movement.
University presidents called for a national forum on youth, arguing that it is urgent to recognise young people as key players in public debate. This move comes just over six months before the presidential election, amidst a tense social and political climate marked by rising prices and a push for budget cuts that affect young people.
Two student unions, L'Union étudiante and the USL (Union syndicale lycéenne), are calling for a new day of action on Thursday. The protests have brought attention to the demands of the students, including increased education funding and replacement teachers. The government's response to the protests and the proposed national forum on youth will be closely watched in the coming weeks.
Key points
- French PM Lecornu condemns violence at student-led protests.
- 256,000 demonstrators march across France, demanding more education funding.
- Government announces measures to address student demands, including online consultation platform and 'period of internal democracy'.
