Over 160 people were arrested and dozens injured after student protests in France escalated into violence. The protests, which began in the Ile-de-France region, spread to high schools across the country on Monday, coinciding with a nationwide strike by public sector workers and occurring seven months before the presidential election.
Students have been blockading their schools in protest of overcrowded classes, heavy workloads, poor quality learning materials, and teacher shortages. Video footage showed protesters lighting flares and firing fireworks, prompting police to respond with tear gas.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez reported incidents at around 180 establishments, resulting in 164 arrests and injuries to 12 students, three teachers, and 12 police officers. He acknowledged the need to address the difficulties faced by high schools but condemned the violence, stating, "This wasn't about making demands, it was really violence in its purest form."
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu described the situation as "irresponsible" and emphasized that nothing justifies endangering students, staff, or police officers. Education Minister Edouard Geffray characterized the protests as a "classic high school student movement" that was being exploited by violent elements, specifically targeting the left-wing La France Insoumise (LFI) party and its presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon.
Melenchon accused the government of a "crackdown" with "obvious racist undertones," urging LFI activists to support the protests. Lecornu labeled Melenchon’s accusation of racism as "an insult" and criticized him for escalating tensions.
In the Parisian suburb of Saint-Denis, the LFI-run local council expressed support for the students' demands, urging authorities to engage with them directly. The Union Syndicale Lycéenne, a French union representing high school students, announced plans for a nationwide blockade of schools on Tuesday, coinciding with the public sector workers' strike.
French primary school teachers' unions anticipate that around 40% of teachers will be absent on Tuesday. With a presidential election approaching and President Emmanuel Macron unable to run for a third term, politicians are seeking issues that resonate with voters. Melenchon, who finished third in the 2022 presidential election, remains popular among younger, left-leaning voters. His LFI party was part of the Nouveau Front Populaire coalition that opposed the far-right Rassemblement National in legislative elections, resulting in a divided parliament.
Prime Minister Lecornu is attempting to garner support for the 2027 state budget amid rising energy costs and opposition to spending cuts.