Riot police clash with French protesters

Police in France used tear gas on Tuesday to disperse crowds of over 250,000 people who gathered nationwide in support of high school students demanding increased education funding, as reported by government figures. The protests put pressure on outgoing President Emmanuel Macron's administration, with demonstrators blocking high schools and marching in Paris, Marseille, Strasbourg, and other cities.

The Interior Ministry estimated that 266,000 people participated in demonstrations, including 56,000 in Paris, where some clashes occurred between protesters and riot officers. Nearly 500 people were detained, and the widespread use of arrests, tear gas, and riot-control weapons has sparked defiance and anger among some parents and teachers.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez claimed the police response was proportionate, but the protests led to over 6,500 arrests, mostly of minors, fueling growing criticism. French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu urged the government and school leaders to listen to students' concerns and find solutions. The protests began in mid-September at a high school in the Paris region and have evolved into a nationwide movement, echoing other demonstrations that have marked Macron's nearly ten-year tenure.

Frustrations in France extend beyond immediate concerns like fuel prices and poverty to broader issues such as constraints on public spending, wealth inequality, and Macron's inability to run for a third consecutive term. Teenagers' complaints about education funding shortages endangering their futures have resonated with many. The Education Ministry reported that classes were suspended at 891 schools, and the ministry launched an online portal for students to anonymously share their difficulties and desired changes.

Student protests have highlighted rundown classrooms with inadequate resources, including outdated classrooms without air conditioning or basic supplies like desks and chairs. Some students have reported infestations of rats and exhausting workloads. Meanwhile, neighboring Belgium is also witnessing student protests, with over 30 arrests and several injured police officers in the city of Liege.