Key facts
- French teenagers are protesting across the country, blockading hundreds of schools.
- Violence has erupted, with a lycée in Nantes destroyed by fire.
- Millions of euros in damage have been caused.
- 65 teaching staff and 40 school heads have been injured.
- Around 300 police and firefighters have been treated for injuries.
- Approximately 2,000 people, mainly minors, have been taken into custody.
French governments have long been wary of youth-led protests, a sentiment amplified by the upcoming presidential elections. Teenagers across France have been blockading hundreds of lycées for nearly two weeks, with the movement spreading from low-income areas of northern Paris to universities nationwide. The protests have involved significant violence, including a lycée hall in Nantes being destroyed by fire, and smaller fires at school entrances, resulting in millions of euros in damage. Education Minister Édouard Geffray reported that 65 teaching staff, including 40 school heads, were injured, with many stating the perpetrators were not their own students. Additionally, around 300 police and firefighters received treatment for injuries, and approximately 2,000 people, primarily minors, were taken into custody. Student groups claim numerous injuries from police actions, including two teenagers with serious eye injuries and one who lost several teeth.
The protesters' demands, though vague, center on a lack of funding, fewer teachers, smaller classes, and better school facilities. These issues resonate with many in France, especially as Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has proposed significant state spending cuts in the draft budget for next year. However, a greater concern for the government is the potential manipulation of these protests by the hard-left, particularly the France Unbowed (LFI) party and its presidential candidate, Jean-Luc Mélenchon. An internal police report suggested that far-left elements and political groups like LFI are encouraging the unrest to advance their agenda before the national elections. LFI denies orchestrating the protests, with Mélenchon urging students to avoid violence. Despite denials, opponents believe Mélenchon is strategically leveraging the protests to connect with young voters, a demographic where he holds significant support but also experiences high abstention rates.