French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has declared there can be “no room for tolerance of violence” amidst widespread protests from students about school conditions. On Tuesday, tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across France. Lecornu stated in Parliament that high schools would clear their schedules this week to allow for democratic discussions about grievances.
During a question session, the Prime Minister condemned the violence that has accompanied these protests, noting that at least 215 students and 715 police officers have been injured since the protests began. He remarked, “Ultra-violence has arrived at the doorstep of high schools. It must be condemned unconditionally. In a functioning democracy, we cannot allow any room for tolerance of violence.” He added that violence does not contribute to improvements in education.
The government claims 891 out of 3,700 high schools had either suspended or partially cancelled lessons on Tuesday due to the protests. Student unions estimated that about 450,000 people participated in the demonstrations nationwide, including 100,000 in Paris, while the Interior Ministry put the figure at 256,000 across France.
Riot police used water cannons to disperse students in Rennes, with clashes reported in Lyon and Strasbourg. Lecornu accused the far-left party France Unbowed (LFI) of attempting to create chaos ahead of the 2027 presidential election. He also defended the police against claims of excessive force, stating that using the term “police violence” suggests a political directive, which he dismissed as false.
To ease tensions, Lecornu announced the suspension of classes to host a “period of internal democracy” with students. He highlighted an online consultation platform launched by Education Minister Edouard Geffray for students to express their concerns.
Paris’s socialist mayor, Emmanuel Grégoire, announced that town halls would welcome students to gather and organise their movement democratically. University presidents are calling for a “national forum on youth” to acknowledge young people as vital contributors to public debate, especially as the country approaches the presidential election in a politically charged atmosphere marked by rising costs and budget cuts affecting the youth.
Two student unions are planning another day of action on Thursday.
