French police arrested 164 people nationwide during high school protests over overcrowded classrooms and teacher shortages, according to figures released following demonstrations that began the previous week. The unrest left 27 people injured, including 12 security personnel, 12 students, and three school staff members, as protests spread to approximately 180 institutions across France.
Nationwide Spread of High School Demonstrations
The student movement originated in the Paris region when teenagers began blocking school entrances to protest systemic educational issues. Demonstrators voiced opposition to chronic teacher shortages, excessive workloads, and overfilled classrooms. By the following week, actions had multiplied, reaching roughly 180 schools across the country.
Protests hit 28 schools in the greater Paris region, while students also took to the streets in Marseille, the southern departments of Var and Alpes-Maritimes, and around the northern municipalities of Lille and Sedan.
Escalation and Clashes at School Gates
What began as demonstrations over educational conditions quickly turned violent at several locations. Participants also hurled fireworks at police officers and engaged in acts of vandalism, though authorities have not yet quantified the total property damage.
Minister Nuñez characterized the clashes as no longer reflecting the original student demands, describing the events instead as “violence in his purest form.” According to reporting by The World, the movement gained rapid momentum via social media platforms, fueled by a perceived sense of injustice and difficult living conditions among teenagers.
Political Repercussions and Accusations
French Prime Minister Lecornu condemned the unrest in a public statement on the social media platform X. “Fireworks, fires and violence in the vicinity of high schools: nothing justifies putting students, staff or police officers in danger,” he wrote.
Lecornu directly blamed the radical-left political party France Insoumise (LFI) for fanning the flames of the movement. Politicians from the party, including Louis Boyard, publicly backed the student actions and urged demonstrators to expand their protests. Lecornu called the escalation irresponsible, arguing that elected officials have a duty to protect youth rather than exploit their anger for political gain. He specifically called on LFI leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon to condemn the violence.
Mélenchon fired back at the accusations, maintaining that the protesting students pose no threat and asserting that the government’s response relies on excessive force against demonstrators. Polling cited by The World indicates strong support for Mélenchon among younger demographics, showing that 41 to 45 percent of voters aged 18 to 24 would support him in the first round of upcoming presidential elections, putting him ahead of radical-right candidate Marine Le Pen of Rassemblement National.
Upcoming Strikes and Continued Actions
A student union called for fresh high school blockades to coincide with a broader national strike day involving public sector workers. That labor action unites employees from public transport, healthcare, and education sectors in a shared protest against the government’s planned budget cuts.
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