French protests over education and living costs turn violent
Nationwide protests in France have brought clashes, looting and arson in several cities. French Interior Ministry figures put participation at about 410,000, while the CGT union estimated about 800,000. Police reported 1,314 arrests and 53 injured officers, and 70,000 officers were deployed. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu then met student groups on Monday, and the government announced €4 billion in loans for school renovations and new university admissions rules. Student leaders say they will keep protesting because not all demands were met.
Key facts
- Planned cuts of 800 jobs in public high schools are halted, with 500 new teachers to be hired.
- First-year high school classes will be capped at 28 students, phased in during 2027 and 2028.
- The Parcoursup platform will be fully replaced by 2028, according to Higher Education Minister Philippe Baptiste.
- Police arrested or detained more than 6,000 people, including hundreds of minors, according to The Hindu.
- Luxury retailers including Louis Vuitton, Hermès, Dior and Galeries Lafayette suffered millions in losses.
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Why it matters
The unrest and the government's response bear on public spending and the national debt, which is near 120 per cent of GDP.
What changed
First published from RTÉ News, Hindustan Times, Tagesschau, Middle East Eye and The Hindu