France has a plan to calm furious students. There’s just one catch: Macron won’t be president when it happens

France's government announced on Monday that it will replace the national online university admissions platform, Parcoursup, by 2028 in an attempt to ease student protests over education and living costs. Higher Education Minister Philippe Baptiste revealed "substantial changes" to the platform for the 2027 admissions cycle, followed by its full replacement in 2028.

These concessions aimed to address the grievances that sparked mass demonstrations. However, the student movement has grown to encompass workers demanding relief from rising living expenses, broadening the government's challenge beyond the university admissions dispute. The protests intensified on October 17, leading to riots, looting, and clashes with police across the country, resulting in roughly 2,400 arrests.

Students welcomed some concessions but insisted that protests should continue. Demonstrations are planned for October 31, followed by nationwide strikes and protests called by labor unions on November 5. The 2028 deadline to replace Parcoursup falls beyond President Emmanuel Macron's term, making it President Macron's successor to fulfill the commitment.

Macron cannot run for a third term in 2027, and far-right candidate Marine Le Pen leads the polls for the first round of the presidential election on April 18, with a possible second round on May 2 if no candidate secures a majority. The replacement of Parcoursup remains unfinished, as legal changes and the design of the new system need to be addressed.

Despite these efforts, the government's actions may not be enough to quell the ongoing unrest, as students have called for protests to persist.