French PM says violence will not be tolerated in school protests

In a statement to parliament, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu condemned violence during school protests and denied allegations that the government had ordered police repression against demonstrators. He emphasized that no tolerance is to be shown towards acts of violence, asserting that burning down a high school does not improve its condition nor does attacking a teacher contribute to replacing teachers.

Lecornu's remarks came amid nationwide protests, where tens of thousands of students took to the streets, with some incidents involving the burning of objects outside schools and projectiles being thrown at police. The protests have resulted in numerous arrests and dozens of injuries among demonstrators, many of whom are minors.

Critics, including the hard-left France Unbowed party and certain rights groups, have accused the police of using disproportionate force against the protesters. Lecornu acknowledged that accidents can occur, but he accused the LFI, the largest opposition party in parliament, of having a political motive to sow chaos in the country ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

In response, Lecornu announced that formal lessons in high schools would be suspended for the rest of the week, granting headteachers, teachers, and students time to discuss the situation at their respective schools and engage in what he called "internal democracy."