French presidential campaign heats up as student protests fuel political clashes
- On Tuesday, Sept. 29, high school students across France blockaded dozens of schools to protest overcrowded classrooms and teacher shortages, resulting in clashes with police and over 400 detentions as the movement spread nationwide beyond Paris.
- Coordinated disruptions fused with nationwide public-sector strikes as workers and students protested a proposed €54 billion austerity drive, which includes a fourth consecutive annual pay freeze for state employees designed to save €2 billion.
- Interior Minister Laurent Nunez reported 440 detentions and 48 injuries to law enforcement officers during violent clashes outside schools. Officials estimated repair costs at €200,000, while students displayed slogans including "more hours of lessons than sleep."
- Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu condemned the escalation as "irresponsible," accusing the far-left France Unbowed party of hijacking the movement. Party leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon countered, calling the government's response a "crackdown" with "obvious racist undertones."
- The unrest complicates Lecornu's path to passing the 2027 budget, due for unveiling on Thursday. With presidential elections seven months away, the protests underscore deep public dissatisfaction with President Emmanuel Macron's minority government.
208 Articles
208 Articles
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Shin Yu-ri = As high school students dissatisfied with public education across France simultaneously took to the streets, set fires, and blockaded schools, the police...
The student protests in France are spreading: dozens of schools were blocked on Tuesday. There were hundreds of arrests and many injured.
Students demonstrated in front of high schools.
In student protests, numerous minors were arrested, and there are also injured. The Minister of Education speaks of "immeasurable" violence.
France: Throughout France, French students are demonstrating due to dissatisfaction with, among other things, class schedules and a teacher shortage. During blockades of at least…
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