French Students Protest Over School Conditions, Prompting Government Response
Prime Minister convenes crisis meeting as nationwide high school demonstrations escalate, leading to arrests and injuries.
France's prime minister has convened a crisis meeting and canceled ministers' travel plans to address a growing wave of nationwide protests by high school students. The demonstrations, which began in Paris-region schools last week, have expanded across the country, with demonstrators voicing concerns over under-resourced schools and long study hours.
Police have reported hundreds of arrests amid clashes with the young protesters, and dozens of injuries have been sustained. Authorities are investigating reports that some injuries may have resulted from police riot-control projectiles.
The protests have emerged as a significant issue in the ongoing presidential election campaign, which aims to select a successor to President Emmanuel Macron, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term. The unrest adds pressure to a government already contending with France's financial challenges.
Far-left presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon has criticized the government's handling of the protests as repressive. Conversely, critics have accused Mélenchon's party of attempting to leverage the unrest for political gain in the presidential race and of inciting violence.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu's office stated that he has directed ministers to forgo any upcoming official trips to ensure that authorities and law enforcement can concentrate on managing the demonstrations.