'Tense' atmosphere as tens of thousands join French student protests

Paris — Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has defended the actions of French police during student protests, acknowledging that "accidents can happen." Speaking in parliament on Tuesday, Lecornu stated that the triggering factor for police intervention is the occurrence of urban violence. He rejected the term "police brutality," emphasizing that it suggests officers were instructed to use force.

The center-right government led by Macron is facing mounting pressure due to the student protests across the country. Demonstrations involving school and university students, along with representatives from various unions and teacher organizations, were taking place in Paris, with an estimated 86,000 participants in the morning.

The capital's demonstration was anticipated to attract a larger crowd in the afternoon. The protesters are demanding increased funding and improved working conditions in high schools. The movement originated in working-class suburbs of Paris and has since expanded nationwide, becoming a political issue as the campaign for the upcoming presidential election intensifies.

Lecornu acknowledged the concern among high school students and expressed hope that a political response could be provided. On Monday, a 15-year-old boy in northern France lost his hand after being hit by a grenade, with the prosecutor unable to determine whether the student had acquired the grenade or if it was thrown at him. In Tours, a 16-year-old teenager lost an eye due to an injury caused by a projectile that may have been a non-lethal riot police weapon.

Socialist group leader Boris Vallaud of the center-left party stated that his lawmakers would introduce legislation addressing the use of non-lethal weapons during high school protests, aiming to prevent irreversible harm.