France Suspends Classes Nationwide After Most Violent Student Protests in Decades

Has strongly supported the protests while calling for non-violent methods.

Says grievances may be legitimate but violence is not, and accuses the hard-left LFI of whipping up the movement.

Says high-school students, particularly from low-income neighbourhoods, feel they are receiving an inferior education and that inequalities between schools are a real problem.

“High-school students -- particularly those from low-income neighbourhoods -- feel they are receiving an inferior education.”

Expresses enormous pride at taking part in the inception of the movement, saying their grades were slipping.

“Our grades were slipping. If we had not rallied now it would have augured very badly for the future”

Rejects the government's accusations against his party, saying it is descending into conspiracy theories.

“descending into conspiracy theories”

Suspends police use of stun grenades at student protests and says 18 internal investigations into misconduct have been opened.

Convened an emergency meeting with the prime minister and key ministers to try to defuse the crisis.

Condemned the violence, told lawmakers it would not be tolerated, and rejected accusations that the government ordered police repression against protesters.

Says 6,100 people have been arrested since the protests began last month, the overwhelming majority of them minors.

Says more than 1,800 people are being prosecuted, including 1,483 minors.

Met with student leaders and the government announced a five-point plan to reform public education, which students deemed insufficient.

Calls on authorities to avoid unnecessary and excessive use of force and warns that footage and testimonies raise alarming concerns about dangerous use of tear gas, batons, and restraint techniques, with tear gas discharged recklessly and rubber bullets causing serious injuries.

““Footage and testimonies widely reported over the last week raise alarming concerns about the dangerous use of tear gas, batons and restraint techniques by police. Tear gas grenades have been discharged recklessly, and rubber bullets have been fired causing serious injuries.””

Says he is demonstrating in solidarity with high schoolers against police oppression and for more resources for schools, universities, and hospitals, and that Macron's government must stop investing only in war.

““This is my first demonstration. I’m here in solidarity with the high schoolers, after this week of blockades and police oppression. I’m also here for other demands: for universities, for more resources for schools, and not just schools but hospitals too. We’re really short of resources. “Macron’s government has to stop investing only in war. We’re fed up. That’s why we’re all here together in this movement of solidarity, young and old. We all have the same demands: a better future.””

Says they blockaded their school all week to demand rights and denounce conditions, noting absent teachers and fewer resources than Paris schools.

““We blockaded our school all week to demand our rights and to denounce what’s happening in our schools. Teachers are absent, and compared with schools in Paris we don’t have the same resources. We’re given less money, and we don’t have the same privileges.””

Says students do not feel listened to, feel inferior, and doubts whether the protests will change anything.

““We don’t feel listened to at all. We feel inferior, especially considering that we’re the future. So when no one listens to us, we do all this, but in the end will it really change anything? We don’t know.””

Says they came to support classmates and that the movement is general, as classmates cannot do it alone.

““We came to support our classmates, simply because if they’re blockading, we blockade too. It’s a general movement, and they can’t do it on their own.””

Says they came to defend their youth because the state does not listen to young people, and that they know what they are defending.

““We came to defend our youth. Because we’re young, the state doesn’t listen to us. They think we have no political awareness and don’t know what we’re defending. We’re here to show the opposite: we know exactly what we’re defending. We know our values.””

Says if nothing changes they will keep going and announces a large demonstration on October 17 with high schoolers, students, and farmers, which she calls like a new revolution.

““If nothing changes, we’ll keep going for much longer. On October 17, there will be a big demonstration, with high schoolers, students and farmers. So it’ll be a bit like a new revolution.””

Supports the high schoolers' movement 100%, says their demands match teachers' long-standing requests for more resources, teachers, and better conditions, and criticizes state neglect and classroom temperatures of 35-40°C during heatwave.

““I support the high schoolers’ movement 100%. Their demands are ones we’ve been making for years. Today, we’re taking the opportunity to march alongside them. They’re asking for more resources, more teachers, better teaching conditions. We’ve been asking for this for years, because the state badly neglects it … You saw how the heatwave was handled: our classrooms were between 35 and 40°C. It’s unacceptable.””

Supports the high schoolers who started the strike in Seine-Saint-Denis, calls their demands legitimate, and says there is anger alongside mobilization because youth want their demands heard.

““I’m here first of all in support of the high schoolers who started this strike in the 93 [Seine-Saint-Denis]. It’s where I live, and I know these schools. They have always lived and worked in unacceptable conditions. Their demands are legitimate, and they have a right to be heard and listened to. “So far I think the atmosphere is rather good. You can see everyone is mobilised, proud and happy to be here. But you can also feel a lot of anger, because for once we want our demands to be heard, and we want people to listen to this youth that has been complaining for several years.””

Says police and riot police were called by their university administration, calls it unacceptable, and says they were peaceful while police chose violence.

““Yesterday we had a general assembly at our university, and the police and riot police were called in by our own administration. We said that was unacceptable. They started blocking our university, blocking our ideals of defending the high schoolers and the current cause. We don’t find that normal, so we came to demonstrate with them today to show our support. In the end there were no classes. We hadn’t finished expressing ourselves. We were peaceful, and they chose violence.””

Says they support each other because they are facing pretty much the same issues.

“"We support each other because we're facing pretty much the same issues,"”

Says they decided to start protesting when they saw nothing was changing without protests, and that France did influence them a little.

“"When we saw nothing was changing without protests, we decided we would start,"”

Says dialogue can be established and hopes young people can express their grievances peacefully and have their concerns heard.

““Dialogue can be established,””

Report that 80 people were detained and 27 formally arrested, and that some protesters damaged property and set fires.

Reports that 6,629 people have been arrested, 761 police and gendarmes, 215 students, and 89 school staff injured, and announces suspension of stun grenades in protest policing.

“"حتى مساء أمس، بلغ عدد الموقوفين 6629 شخصا، وأود أن أشير أيضا إلى إصابة 761 من عناصر الشرطة والدرك، و215 طالبًا، و89 من العاملين في المدارس"” ar

Held a Tuesday evening meeting with ministers to seek a way out of the crisis.

Says security forces did not receive orders to confront students and accuses the France Unbowed party of inflaming the protests.

Says more than 260,000 people participated in Tuesday’s protests.

Says student mobilization declined clearly by midday Wednesday.

Announced before parliament the suspension of lessons in high schools for half a day on Wednesday or Thursday to allow classroom discussion.

Announced it is working to mobilize education workers for a strike early next week.

Announced 18 IGPN investigations and ordered a precautionary suspension of the use of stun grenades during the high-school movement.

“Abbiamo bisogno di capire cosa sia successo” it

Convened the prime minister and the interior and education ministers at the Élysée after the marches.

Criticized the suspension of stun grenades and accused Macron of always siding with those who criticize the police.

“Io ritengo chiaramente che le forze dell'ordine svolgano il proprio lavoro” it

Announced that the five education unions will support the students' mobilization.

“Le nostre cinque organizzazioni appoggeranno la mobilitazione” it

Criticizes teenagers for vandalizing schools and attacking teachers and police, renews his call for restoration of national service including work in health care and education, and calls for TikTok to be banned as a tool for destabilizing Western societies.

““destabilizing Western societies””

Reports 33 administrative arrests and 20 judicial arrests since Oct. 1, including 17 minors; says 22 police officers were injured Monday, and a 13-year-old boy appeared before juvenile court for allegedly calling on others to set a school on fire.

Announced high school classes will be suspended at end of week to provide a time for internal democracy, said there can be no tolerance for violence, urged the political class to stand together with public servants, rejected the term 'police violence', said accidents require investigations and empathy, described the heaviest toll in decades, and said ultraviolence and normalization of violence are unacceptable.

““Burning down a high school does not improve the condition of high school buildings.””

Summoned the French ambassador over the French government's handling of protests and alleged human rights violations.

Accuses France of double standards, saying the problem is not dissent but double standards, and argues that the definition of human rights and the right to protest should not change depending on protesters' location.

“"The problem is not dissent; the problem is double standards,"”

Executed two protesters over their alleged role in the killing of police officers during anti-government protests in January.

Describes the protest movement as unprecedented in the number of schools, pupils, and degree of violence involved.

“"unprecedented"”

Is described as a deeply unpopular lame duck barred from standing in the upcoming presidential election; his 2024 snap election produced a gridlocked assembly.

Insists security forces are not under orders to confront high-school students, only to enforce the law, and describes himself as the weakest prime minister in living memory.

“"weakest prime minister"”

Says teachers are sometimes absent for several weeks without replacement and her school buildings were boiling hot during recent heat waves.

“"Sometimes our teachers are absent for several weeks without being replaced,"”

Condemns earlier violence, reports that 215 students and 85 staff have been hurt as well as 715 police officers, and accuses the radical-left France Unbowed party of seeking to "sow chaos" ahead of elections.

“"sow chaos"”

Says he has appealed for dialogue rather than school blockades and complains that ultra-violent elements infiltrated the high-school student movements.

“"ultra-violent elements infiltrated the high-school student movements"”

Says most protesters are not violent and that they are protesting because schools are closed and falling apart.

“"“Most of us aren't violent,”" "“We're going to the streets because they've closed our schools... schools are falling apart.”"”

Says the ceilings in Marseille's schools are leaking and conditions are poor, so they can't work much, and that they will keep protesting until good measures are taken.

“"“so we can't really work a lot of time”" "“We will keep doing this until good measures are taken,”"”

Says they are grandparents of three mobilised students who protested peacefully but were still tear-gassed.

“"“We are the grandparents of three students who are all mobilised. They have protested peacefully in front of their respective high schools in Paris in recent days, but they were still tear-gassed,”"”

Described the movement as "unprecedented" in terms of the number of schools, pupils and the degree of violence involved.

“unprecedented”

Described by the article as a deeply unpopular lame-duck president barred from standing in the coming election.

Insists security forces are not under orders to confront high-school students, only to enforce the law.

Says teachers are sometimes absent for weeks without replacement and that school buildings were boiling hot during recent heat waves.

“Sometimes our teachers are absent for several weeks without being replaced,”

Said the demonstrations had been policed in a completely proportionate manner.

“کاملا متناسب” fa

Announced measures to address students' demands but said the government will make no concessions to violence.

“ما در برابر خشونت هیچگونه امتیازی نخواهیم داد.” fa

Expresses sympathy over the injured student, says protecting students is the absolute priority, calls it a catastrophe, but notes severe violence within the movements.

“می‌خواهم مراتب همدردی خود را با این جوان ابراز کنم. اولویت مطلق ما حفاظت از دانش‌آموزانمان است.” fa

Called the protests the most powerful youth movement of high-school and university students since 1968.

Called for a new anti-riot law and said the events were riots organized by professionals and overseen by LFI deputies.

Labels the protests a climate of unacceptable violence and calls for order.

“"climate of unacceptable violence"”

Called an emergency meeting in response to the mass protests.

Ordered the government to work on five areas—ensuring lessons take place, improving school buildings, reorganizing school days, making Parcoursup more transparent, and giving students a greater say—and says the 2027 budget provides an additional €1.2 billion for education.

Reports at least 256,000 people protested nationwide on Tuesday and hundreds were arrested after some protests turned violent.

Launches a nationwide online consultation encouraging every high school to devote half a day to discussions between students and staff.

Calls for more teachers and educational support staff, renovations for ageing infrastructure, overhauls of overloaded timetables, and an end to police violence against protesters.

Expresses deep concern about what it describes as disproportionate use of force in some cases.

Calls on French authorities to end the disproportionate police repression seen during student protests.

“"put an end to the disproportionate police repression seen in recent days during student protests"”

Seeks to blame the unrest on mass migration and Islam.

“"mass migration"”

Calls for a non-violent protest.

Rejects the government’s accusation that it is encouraging unrest, saying the movement is student-led.

Reports about 40 per cent of France’s public higher education institutions were disrupted on Tuesday.

Announced he had suspended police use of stun grenades at student-led demonstrations.

Held an emergency meeting with the prime minister and key ministers to find a way out of the crisis.

Condemned violence, told lawmakers it would not be tolerated, and rejected accusations that the government ordered 'police repression' against protesters.

Says the government will review demands made by students and present proposals at the end of October.

Says police decided to charge and go after students who showed no aggression, that protests are not new and happen every academic year, that the Republican promise of equality is not respected, and that he has a responsibility to stand with the students.

“"They had decided to charge and effectively go after the students, many of whom had shown no aggressive behaviour whatsoever toward the police officers,"”

Say hundreds of police officers have been injured, schools have been burned or ransacked, and teachers and members of the public have been attacked.

Takes charge of the crisis, calling in a letter to ministers for concrete proposals on faster handling of class cancellations, upgrading school buildings for hotter summers, and making Parcoursup more transparent.

Tried to ease tensions by meeting student representatives; the meeting was unsuccessful.

Describes the budget as austerity and a signal to financial markets, argues money is only part of the problem because dissatisfaction is linked to priorities and the education system’s direction, and stresses France must remain seen as a credible debtor.

“"It is an austerity budget,"”

Says interest payments already consume more than half of the overall budget deficit.

Plans spending cuts worth billions of euros, aiming to reduce the budget by around €54 billion compared with previous projections, including around €5.5 billion in pension savings and more cuts in healthcare.

Suspended use of stun grenades in high school student protests until facts of the incident are clarified, saying the suspension is only for those protests and for just long enough to understand what happened.

“"I am suspending their use in the high school student protests until the facts of the incident have been clarified,"”

Said France cannot remain indifferent to students' concerns, that the anger of young people does not come from nowhere, that too many promises were not kept because they were untenable, and that he wants concrete, quick, fully funded answers; denied orders to confront protesters; promised first decisions at end of October.

“"What I want are concrete, quick and fully funded answers."”

Rejected the contents of a widely-shared TikTok video claiming to show him threatening indiscriminate use of tear gas grenades and a risk of even more amputations, reminded video makers they risked prosecution, and urged them to return to reason and not be manipulated.

Summoned Iran's ambassador to protest a disinformation campaign conducted by Iranian authorities and told him that misleading content disseminated online by Iran's Foreign Ministry was absolutely unacceptable.

Had earlier summoned France's ambassador to complain of violent treatment against protesters and extensive human rights violations.

Called for an emergency crisis meeting over the unrest.

Described the protests as the most violent in recent decades and instructed ministers to submit proposals by the end of October.

Said European Central Bank intervention is not needed despite rising borrowing costs.

Accused the far-left LFI of provocation and promised 140 billion euros of savings if elected.

Convened an extraordinary meeting with the education and interior ministers at the Élysée Palace.

Rejects the phrase “police violence,” says implying political instructions of police repression is false and a lie, and accuses France Unbowed of exploiting the protests.

““Es falso, es una mentira”” es

Reports that about 900 of France’s 3,700 schools had classes suspended, wholly or partly.

Says the movement is the most powerful youth mobilization in France in 50 years, urges prudence, and tells participants they are right.

““Es una cosa increíble lo que estáis haciendo, no os dais cuenta. Es el movimiento de juventud más poderoso que se haya visto en Francia en 50 años. Y nadie se atreve a deciros que estáis equivocados, porque tenéis toda la razón”” es

Says schooling and university costs are rising and cuts to teachers and salaries are leading to the elitization of education and the death of the Republic’s values and social equality.

““Suben los costes de la escolarización, también las tarifas universitarias. Recortan en profesores, en sueldos. Todo conduce a la elitización de la educación, a la muerte de los valores de la República y la igualdad social”” es

Says the movement must last and lead to a general strike.

““Esto tiene que durar y desembocar en una huelga general”” es

Says the traditional left is now right-wing and LFI is the only party close to students, workers, and immigrants.

““¿La verdad? La izquierda tradicional es ya de derechas y LFI es el único partido que está cerca de los estudiantes, de los obreros y de los inmigrantes"” es

Characterizes the protests as noble.

““nobles”” es

Says the closest precedent occurred in 1990 and that teachers and students are united.

““Lo más parecido ocurrió en 1990”” es

Announced temporary ban on stun grenades and gas grenades, admitted the movement caught law enforcement by surprise and mutated into violence, reported 6,629 arrests and 761 officers injured, and stated most student injuries were accidental or caused by projectiles from other demonstrators.

““las lesiones fueron accidentales”” es

In televised address announced sectoral aid including a 12-18 cent per liter fuel price cut, release of 10 million barrels of oil, and an energy check from January; promised education budget would increase; defended police and denied any instruction to repress students without reason; called for patriotism and said budget adjustment of 54 billion euros is needed.

““Nos encontramos en una situación difícil, pero eso no significa que no tengamos respuestas”” es

Stated slightly less than half of injured education staff were school directors or deputy directors, and said there was a violent will directed against National Education staff, which had never been seen before.

““Ha habido una voluntad violenta dirigida contra el personal de Educación Nacional y nunca habíamos visto algo así, nunca”” es

Demands that after the suspension of stun grenades, rubber bullet launchers (LBD) also be banned, saying the government's measure is insufficient.

““El abandono de las granadas ensordecedoras frente al movimiento de los estudiantes de secundaria, anunciado por el Gobierno, no es suficiente: también hay que prohibir los lanzadores de balas de goma, los LBD [los fusiles que lanzan bolas de goma]”” es

Asked for initial decisions by the end of October, including their cost, financing and timetable, and called for classes to resume where security allows.

Accuses French authorities of disproportionate use of force and urges European institutions to pay attention to how the demonstrations are policed.

Says The Left stands with protesting students and links the mobilization to cuts in education and the cost-of-living crisis.

Says public order remains primarily a French national responsibility and that peaceful assembly must be protected while policing must be proportionate and lawful.

“every Member State is entitled to uphold the law while every protester is entitled to expect proportionate and lawful policing”

Urged by the FCPE at the Conseil supérieur de l'Education to listen to the legitimate demands of high-school students.

Calls to demonstrate alongside high-school students and demands the minister listen to the students' legitimate demands.

Says extremely organized groups can carry out very violent attacks and that she cannot imagine her own students destroying their second home.

“Il y a des groupes extrêmement organisés, qui peuvent mener des attaques très violentes devant certains établissements.” fr

Convened several ministers on Tuesday night to seek a response to the social crisis.

Launched five projects to respond to high-school students' demands, announced half-day class suspensions from Wednesday to Friday so schools could organise debates with students, and accused La France Insoumise of inciting violence in the protests for electoral purposes.

“"atizar la violencia"” es

Counted 266,000 protesters nationwide on Tuesday, including 56,000 in Paris.

Put the turnout at 450,000 nationwide and 100,000 in Paris.

Considered the government's platform for collecting their grievances insufficient and called for continuing the blockades and holding new marches on Thursday.

Expressed maximum concern over disproportionate use of force by police in the student protests.

Summoned France's ambassador in Tehran to protest the violent response to student protests and widespread human rights violations, conveyed deep concern over violent repression of peaceful gatherings, and said use of such violence against peaceful protesters is unjustifiable.

Criticizes France for double standards, says France called for moderation in Iran but now describes student protests as urban violence and advocates force; acknowledges violence against police and property cannot be justified but says the state has a duty to restore order; argues the problem is double standards and human rights should not vary by geography.

“«El problema no es la protesta; el problema es el doble rasero»” es

Demanded respect for fundamental freedoms, especially peaceful assembly, and said such levels of violence against peaceful protesters cannot be justified.

“استفاده از چنین سطحی از خشونت علیه معترضان در تجمعات مسالمت‌آمیز به هیچ عنوان قابل توجیه نیست.” fa

Summoned by Iran's foreign ministry over the treatment of protesters.

Says her classmate did not pick up the grenade and that it exploded in his hand as students were already fleeing.

“Il l'a pas ramassée, il l'a reçue sur lui” fr

Opened an investigation for violence causing mutilation and referred it to the IGPN, while remaining cautious about the grenade's circumstances.

Says a psychological support unit was set up at the Béhal high school for students and teachers who need it.

Says false content disseminated by official Iranian foreign ministry accounts is absolutely unacceptable, calls Iran's earlier summons of the French ambassador baseless, and demands the provocations cease.

“"These undignified provocations must cease."”

Summoned France's envoy in Tehran over the student protests, accusing Paris of violent treatment of demonstrators and extensive human rights violations.

“"violent treatment"”

Says violence is legitimate because students have tried for years to talk to the government without being heard, that protesters act peacefully while police behave more harshly so young people defend themselves, and that children aged 14–15 pose no danger.

“"Я считаю, что такое насилие [со стороны учеников] законно, потому что мы уже много лет пытаемся поговорить с правительством: рассылаем письма, снимаем видео в социальных сетях, но нас никто не слушает."” ru

Says the many reforms harming French students cause great stress, citing the university selection system and the regional allocation algorithm that produces deep inequality.

“"Он проводит множество реформ, ущемляющих интересы французских студентов. Они вызывают у нас сильный стресс. Возьмем, к примеру, систему отбора в университеты: во Франции действует алгоритм распределения студентов по ВУЗам региона, и это порождает огромное неравенство"” ru

Claims police response was appropriate to the circumstances in nearly all incidents; over 6,100 people have been arrested and 715 officers injured.

Proposed large government spending cuts and tax increases to reduce the budget deficit.

Warns that investors are concerned about financial populism after the election and that there is a large risk of a significant widening in bond yield spreads before or after next year's election.

“'निर्वाचनपछि वित्तीय लोकप्रियतावाद बढ्न सक्ने विषयमा पनि लगानीकर्ता चिन्तित हुनेछन् । अर्को वर्षको निर्वाचनअघि वा पछि ऋणपत्रको प्रतिफलबीचको अन्तर निकै बढ्ने ठूलो जोखिम छ,'” ne

Says that given France's size and systemic importance, there is a high probability of contagion to other countries and the entire Eurozone, potentially causing a serious crisis for the whole region.

“'फ्रान्सको आकार र प्रणालीगत महत्त्वलाई हेर्दा अन्य देश तथा समग्र युरोजोनमा यसको असर फैलिने सम्भावना निकै ठूलो छ र यसले सम्पूर्ण क्षेत्रका लागि गम्भीर संकट निम्त्याउन सक्छ ।'” ne

Says economic growth is regaining momentum and Europe has shown more resilience than expected.

“"आर्थिक वृद्धि पुन: गति लिँदैछ र युरोपले अपेक्षा गरिएभन्दा बढी लचकता देखाएको छ,"” ne

Says interest rates will continue to rise if governments do not cut spending.

“'सरकारहरूले खर्च कटौती नगरे ब्याजदर निरन्तर बढिरहनेछ ।'” ne

Says Europe's public finance situation poses a serious risk to the Eurozone's financial markets and economy.

“'युरोपको सार्वजनिक वित्तीय अवस्थाले युरोजोनको वित्तीय बजार र अर्थतन्त्रका लागि गम्भीर जोखिम सिर्जना गरेको छ ।'” ne

Has recently proposed large government spending cuts to stabilize public finances, but her party remains committed to expensive tax cut plans.

Pledges to address high-school students' concerns about run-down schools, substitute-teacher shortages and schedules, with policy responses to come later this month, and announces the release of strategic fuel reserves to lower prices.

“"The anger among young people didn't come out of nowhere"”

Spoke of ultraviolence having hit the doors of high schools.

“ultraviolence ayant frappé à la porte des lycées” fr

Declared that Islam and immigration were responsible for the French student movement.

Fustigated the RN budget as a dangerous program that would aggravate inequalities.

“programme dangereux” fr

Described her counter-budget as a cure of recovery rather than austerity.

“cure de redressement, pas d'austérité” fr

Says the movement is being instrumentalized by the far left and denies there is any police repression, calling officers heroes.

“Il n'y a pas de répression policière” fr

Says they support each other because they are facing pretty much the same issues.

“'আমরা একে অপরকে সমর্থন করি। আমরা প্রায় একই ধরনের সমস্যার মুখোমুখি হচ্ছি।'” bn

Says they decided to start protesting when they saw nothing was changing without protests, and that France influenced them a little.

“'আমরা যখন দেখলাম বিক্ষোভ ছাড়া কিছুই বদলাচ্ছে না, তখন সিদ্ধান্ত নিলাম; আমরাও শুরু করব। ফ্রান্স আমাদের কিছুটা প্রভাবিত করেছে।'” bn

Hopes peace will return and an environment for dialogue will be created, and that young people can express their grievances peacefully and have their concerns heard.

Says police told her they were placing young people in custody to disperse the movement, and describes a 16-year-old held all day then released without charge.

“Mon cabinet vient d'assister une adolescente de 16 ans, interpellée à 8h. Elle est restée au commissariat jusqu'à 18h, puis relâchée sans aucune poursuite.” fr

Says detained young people unanimously report violent arrests and psychological pressure, and that dossiers are thin and prosecutions artificial.

“Dans les commissariats, on voit des jeunes de 14 ou 15 ans entassés dans des cellules, dans des conditions indignes” fr

Says mass arrests followed by dismissals for lack of evidence show the intent is to break and repress the movement.

“On constate, avec les interpellations en masse, puis des classements sans suite faute d'éléments suffisants, dénonce l'avocate, que la volonté est surtout de casser le mouvement, de le réprimer” fr

Launched five initiatives to respond to the anger and announced the suspension of classes until the end of the week to organise "times of internal democracy," and will address the nation on the school situation, fuel prices, the farm crisis and the country's finances.

Says part of the demands is significantly more resources and that people shouldn't be lied to, acknowledging budget-line issues for students and for improving work and learning conditions.

“"Une partie des revendications, c'est quand même beaucoup plus de moyens. Donc, il ne faut pas mentir aux gens. Oui, il y a des enjeux de lignes budgétaires pour les étudiants, pour l'amélioration des conditions de travail, des conditions d'apprentissage."” fr

Sees positive signals from the executive toward lycéens and calls for an "equal opportunity plan" covering investment in premises, recruitment and Parcoursup orientation, urging the government to raise its proposals to ease tensions and get students back to class.

“"Cela inclut une partie investissement dans les locaux, une partie recrutement et une partie orientation par rapport à Parcoursup, qui sont les trois principales revendications"” fr

Says the government remains blind to the demands and must quickly "open the checkbook," suggesting that €10.8 billion would ensure equal education and help students facing precarity.

“"Si jamais le gouvernement met 10,8 milliards sur la table, alors on pourra s'assurer qu'on ait une éducation à égalité et des étudiants qui soient aidés face à la précarité."” fr

Says they have overcrowded classes and complicated working conditions, including broken video projectors, and that their goal is to demand decent working conditions for teachers, showing solidarity with the high school protesters.

“«des classes surchargées, des conditions de travail compliquées, notamment en ce qui concerne le matériel avec des vidéoprojecteurs qui ne fonctionnent pas»” fr

Says in her establishment there is only one CPE (senior education adviser) for 720 students.

“«Dans mon établissement, nous n'avons qu'une CPE [conseillère principale d'éducation, NDLR] pour 720 élèves»” fr

Says they must stop closing classes because teachers are facing 35 students, whereas with the same positions they could have 20-25 students, which would be a luxury but shouldn't even be one.

“«Il faut qu'on arrête les fermetures de classes parce qu'on se retrouve avec des professeurs qui sont face à 35 élèves alors qu'en gardant les mêmes postes on pourrait se retrouver avec des enseignants devant 20-25 élèves, ce qui serait le luxe. Mais ça ne devrait même pas en être un.»” fr

Justifies the use of grenades and rubber bullets as proportionate when riots occur and rejects the charge of police repression.

“"Man kann hier nicht von polizeilicher Repression sprechen"” de

Called on the ministries on Sunday evening to initiate concrete improvements in schools and to listen to students' legitimate concerns.

Stated that teaching was fully or partly cancelled at 891 gymnasiums.

Launched an online platform on Monday where students can describe their demands and problems.

Say they cannot understand the repression, that the vast majority of students condemn violence and vandalism and are pacifists, and that they only want their demands heard.

“"Wir können diese Repression nicht nachvollziehen. Die überwiegende Mehrheit der Schüler verurteilt Gewalt und Sachbeschädigungen. Wir sind Pazifisten"” de

Reported that 1,800 gymnasiums across France were blockaded or preemptively closed and that 90% of universities were blockaded.

Reports that 256,000 people participated in demonstrations, including 56,000 in Paris.

Says he came to protest against teacher job cuts, which he says are claimed to be due to demographic reasons but are really to save money, leading to classes with up to 35 students.

“"Ich bin gekommen, um gegen Stellenstreichungen bei Lehrkräften zu protestieren", "Es heißt, die würden gestrichen, weil es in Zukunft aus demografischen Gründen weniger Schüler geben wird. Aber damit soll doch bloß Geld gespart werden. Und das führt dazu, dass in manchen Klassen bis zu 35 Schüler sitzen. Das sind keine Bedingungen, um zu lernen."” de

Says it is scandalous that money flows to less important areas like the army, and that education saves the nation. Also says violence is overrepresented in media and that they protest because they are not heard and are mocked.

“"Es ist skandalös, dass das Geld in weniger wichtige Bereiche wie die Armee fließt", "Es ist doch Bildung, die die Nation rettet."” de

Says they have been protesting for three years, that teachers, MPs and parents have demanded an emergency plan for the department, but the government responds with contempt and sends police, which they consider inappropriate; they want education policy responses.

“"Wir protestieren seit drei Jahren", "Lehrkräfte, Abgeordnete und Eltern fordern seit drei Jahren einen Notfallplan für das Departement. Und alles, was wir als Antwort bekommen, ist die Verachtung der Regierung, und dass sie uns die Polizei schickt. Wir halten diese Antwort nicht für angemessen. Wir wollen bildungspolitische Antworten."” de

Suspends police use of stun grenades during the high-school movement after the Lens injury, and rejects accusations of police repression as excessive, saying officers do not intervene when protests are peaceful.

“"are not intervening if the protests are peaceful"”

Says the country cannot be indifferent to high-school students' concerns and that young people's anger does not come from nowhere, denies police had orders to confront protesters, and promises an action plan on teacher replacements, building renovation and timetables by end of October.

“"anger of young people does not come from nowhere"”

Has strongly supported the protests while urging non-violence.

Welcomes the suspension of stun grenades as an important first step but says the devices should be permanently banned from the policing of all protests.

“"Protests should not be battlefields. Stun grenades are designed to shock, disorient and sow panic, often among dense crowds. Some can cause permanent hearing loss as well as life-changing mutilations due to the blast and shrapnel."”

Says her son's hand was amputated, that his life has been stolen, and that he had not tried to pick up the grenade.

“"His life has been stolen. He’s a 15-year-old kid, how can children be treated like that?"”

Have repeatedly accused police of using unnecessary force during the demonstrations.

Backed further strike action on Thursday and reported 80 university campuses blockaded in largely peaceful protests.

Denounced by the police unions for language elements they say systematically call the police into question.

Reaffirm total support for mobilized officers, state police do not use lethal weapons, and say their forces are themselves targeted by projectiles and fireworks.

“rétablir l'ordre, rétablir les faits” fr

Blamed the far-left LFI party, calling its calls to expand the demonstrations highly irresponsible.

Rejects the claim that students are being manipulated, saying they are protesting real problems of overcrowded classes, too few teachers and decaying schools.

“我们不是来无缘无故砸东西的” zh