Aktionstag in Frankreich: Schülerproteste weiten sich aus - Krisensitzung im Élysée

A nationwide student protest wave in France demanding better school conditions has escalated, with an estimated 256,000 people participating in demonstrations, 56,000 of them in Paris alone. Educational unions reported around 450,000 protesters nationwide. Following the widespread protests, President Emmanuel Macron is set to convene an emergency session with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, and Education Minister Édouard Geffray to discuss the situation.

The protests began last week and have spilled over into numerous major cities and universities, with blockades and solidarity marches forming. Both students and teachers attended, concerned about the safety of their children. Police mobilized a large presence and faced accusations of excessive force, with young protesters criticizing the use of tear gas.

Politicians also expressed outrage over the use of force, with the General Police Inspection investigating incidents where demonstrators were injured. Police were also targeted with objects and fireworks, as over 43 officers were injured the previous day. An estimated 5,060 people were arrested on Tuesday, with 87% being minors.

The Ministry of Justice reported that 5,060 people were detained at the beginning of the protests, 87% of whom were minors. Damage to school buildings and public spaces was estimated to be in the millions of euros. Schools and universities blocked 1,800 nationwide, and 90% of colleges were partially or fully closed. Students' concerns have been ongoing, including overburdened schedules, insufficient substitute teachers, dilapidated school buildings, and a need for improved learning conditions, particularly in disadvantaged neighborhoods.

Prime Minister Lecornu called for concrete improvements in schools over the next few days, while Education Minister Geffray launched an online platform for students to voice their demands. However, the students remain unsatisfied, emphasizing their pacifist stance and the widespread support for their cause. These massive protests took place seven months before the presidential election, catching the government off guard as they grappled with a austerity budget.

The government now aims to prevent the protests from escalating further into other areas, such as higher education, fearing a second Yellow Vest-style movement could emerge, prolonging France's current difficulties.