PARIS (AP) — France's Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu convened a crisis meeting on Thursday and canceled ministers' trips to address the nationwide protests by high school students regarding under-resourced schools and long hours. The demonstrations began in Paris-region schools last week and have escalated, resulting in hundreds of arrests during clashes with police. Authorities reported numerous injuries, some caused by thrown objects and others from police riot-control projectiles.
The protests are becoming a significant issue in the election campaign to succeed President Emmanuel Macron, who cannot seek a third consecutive term next May. The unrest is increasing pressure on the government amid France's financial challenges and overshadowing the release of its proposed cost-cutting budget for 2027.
At a Paris high school where students barricaded an entrance, 18-year-old Salama Gargouri stated that protesters aim to address "overloaded schedules, the system, the teachers, people who don't listen to us, the university application process." High school students in France typically start classes at 8 a.m. and remain until late afternoon.
"Older people say, 'Kids, go to school from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day.' But you don't know what that does mentally," said Janna Tahari, another Paris high school student.
There have been reports of arson, thrown projectiles, and other violence during some protests, leading to injuries and accusations. The interior minister has ordered police to dismantle blockades that hinder students from attending classes and to curb violence and vandalism.
Juliette Estiville, a high school Spanish teacher, expressed her support for the students, stating, "So, I'm here just to provide protection, to form a barrier between the police and the students." She noted that the teachers present at the blockades are there to protect the students.
Education Minister Edouard Geffray reported that Thursday's violence included a school being set on fire and staff being doused with gasoline. He instructed that classes be held remotely when blockades or damage to schools pose risks to students.
"Violence will not deprive our students of their fundamental right to education," Geffray stated in a post on X.
Far-left presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon criticized the government's response as repressive, while his critics accused his party of inciting violence and exploiting the unrest for political gain ahead of the presidential election.
The Prime Minister's office announced that Lecornu requested ministers to cancel any planned official trips in the coming days to allow authorities and police to focus on managing the demonstrations.
Samuel Petrequin in Paris contributed to this report.