Tens of thousands march across France as student protests peak in Tuesday day of action

Tens of thousands of people demonstrated across France on Tuesday in support of high school pupils demanding more resources for education, as a weeks-long student protest movement reached one of its largest days of action (https://www.newslooks.com/french-school-protests-grow-as-students-demand-more-education-funding/).

The Interior Ministry estimated that 86,000 people participated in demonstrations outside Paris on Tuesday morning, with further crowds assembling in the capital for an afternoon rally (https://www.newslooks.com/french-school-protests-grow-as-students-demand-more-education-funding/). Students again blockaded schools as crowds carrying flags and placards gathered in Marseille, Strasbourg and other cities.

The Education Ministry reported that classes were fully or partially suspended at 891 schools on Tuesday (https://www.newslooks.com/french-school-protests-grow-as-students-demand-more-education-funding/), while student unions said up to 1,800 secondary schools were blockaded or disrupted (https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/40596281/french-students-protesting-paris-schools-closed/).

More than 6,100 people, mostly minors, have been arrested since the movement began in mid-September, with over 1,800 people — including 1,483 minors — now being prosecuted (https://www.thetimes.com/world/europe/article/france-protests-latest-news-french-students-schools-lxnx02q6p). Government figures put injuries at 715 police officers and 215 teenagers (https://www.thetimes.com/world/europe/article/france-protests-latest-news-french-students-schools-lxnx02q6p).

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu told parliament on Tuesday there could be “no room for tolerance of violence”, and said he had ordered ministers to tackle the students’ leading demands — including replacing absent teachers, reviewing the 8am-to-6pm school day and repairing ageing buildings — with first proposals due by the end of October (https://www.thetimes.com/world/europe/article/france-protests-latest-news-french-students-schools-lxnx02q6p).

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez defended policing methods on Tuesday, saying officers’ response had been proportionate in “almost all cases” (https://www.newslooks.com/french-school-protests-grow-as-students-demand-more-education-funding/). The education ministry has also opened an anonymous online portal where pupils can report problems and suggest changes (https://www.newslooks.com/french-school-protests-grow-as-students-demand-more-education-funding/).

The policing of the demonstrations has become a flashpoint in the early stages of France’s presidential election campaign, with Emmanuel Macron unable to seek a third consecutive term in 2027 (https://www.newslooks.com/french-school-protests-grow-as-students-demand-more-education-funding/).