Published 13 hours ago • loading... • Updated 2 hours ago
French presidential campaign heats up as student protests fuel political clashes
Students and unions are pressing for more school funding and pay protection as officials report hundreds of affected schools and dozens of arrests.
On Tuesday, Sept. 29, high school students blockaded dozens of schools across France, resulting in over 160 arrests and dozens of injuries during violent clashes with police.
Teenagers have blockaded schools since last week protesting overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages, and heavy workloads, intensified by the government's proposed €54 billion austerity drive.
Repair costs for vandalized schools reached €200,000, while the Education Ministry reported disruptions at 338 schools nationwide as students set fires and threw projectiles.
Education Minister Edouard Geffray alleged "a political hijacking of the blockades by elected officials from France Unbowed," while CGT leader Sophie Binet issued a 48-hour ultimatum to withdraw cuts.
Ahead of Thursday's budget unveiling, the unrest intensifies pressure on Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, with political figures mobilizing younger voters seven months before the 2027 presidential election.
France: Throughout France, French students are demonstrating due to dissatisfaction with, among other things, class schedules and a teacher shortage. During blockades of at least…
5 hours ago·Amsterdam, Netherlands (Kingdom of the)