France’s Mélenchon doubles down on student protests despite violent clashes

Paris — Far-left presidential contender Jean-Luc Mélenchon rallied his backers to join nationwide protests on Tuesday, advocating for students occupying high schools, despite accusations that he incited violence. "Our country is witnessing the most powerful movement of high school and college students since May 1968," Mélenchon declared, referencing the historic demonstrations six decades ago that transformed French society.

In a lengthy video released on Monday, Mélenchon dismissed government and right-wing claims that he incites unrest by calling for student support. Vandalism or arson incidents were reported at 24 protests last week, according to Education Minister Edouard Geffray, who stated that blockades took place at 400 to 500 high schools, roughly 10% of the total in France.

The protests commenced last month when students and teachers blockaded schools demanding increased funding and improved working conditions. They have since evolved into a nationwide movement and a political issue as the campaign for next year's presidential election intensifies. "In the field of education, as in all other public services, policies of penny-pinching and budget cuts have led to the near-collapse of the system," Mélenchon remarked.

Students encircle the entrance to Saint Charles De Foucauld High School in Paris on October 5, 2026. | Djoudi Hamani/AFP via Getty Images Mélenchon's detractors, including France's controversial government, blame him for fueling a volatile political climate that incites violence. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu's office stated that France Unbowed and its ideological allies, alongside France's government and intelligence agencies, shared the view that the student protests were incited.

The 75-year-old denied instigating violence, calling the allegation "absurd" in his video, and blaming the police for violently dispersing protests, but he remains steadfast in his rhetoric. In a recent blog post, Mélenchon emphasized that he views the moment as an opportunity to seize the political narrative and capitalize on his strong lead among the youth vote.

"The government immediately singled out France Unbowed as the devil incarnate. That was a mistake on their part," he wrote. "It earned us a significant surge in popularity in high schools, where we were already well-received." A recent Cluster17 poll, shared exclusively with POLITICO, revealed that 47% of respondents under 35 intended to vote for Mélenchon.

POLITICO's Poll of Polls aggregator currently shows him with a slight lead over centrist candidates in the race to secure the second spot and advance to the presidential runoff, where he would likely face off against far-right frontrunner Marine Le Pen. Tuesday's demonstrations could serve as a crucial gauge of how far Mélenchon can leverage the lingering discontent to his advantage.

"Several organizations have rallied behind the high schoolers and their union. This is absolutely unprecedented. And it's undoubtedly an indication of a massive protest ahead, one that paves the way for others to follow," said Paul Vannier, a prominent MP and Mélenchon deputy. Despite this, Mélenchon remains a polarizing figure.

Seventy-three percent of voters expressed little to no possibility of voting for him, according to the Cluster17 poll shared exclusively with POLITICO, compared to 62% for Le Pen. His primary objective for now is to solidify his base and secure the runoff, with younger voters being a crucial component of his strategy. However, images of damaged buildings and clashes between police and protesters risk tarnishing his reputation among the broader electorate.

A poll conducted last week found that while most respondents acknowledged the demonstrations' legitimacy, they disagreed with France Unbowed's approach.