French Prime Minister Stands Firm Against Violent Student Protests and Lawlessness
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France's prime minister issued a strong warning against further violence in disruptive high-school protests, as authorities moved to restore order after dozens were injured and over 160 arrested across more than 180 schools.
France's prime minister Sébastien Lecornu firmly declared that any escalation of the current wave of high-school protests would be 'irresponsible,' emphasizing the government's commitment to law and order. While acknowledging that students' concerns should be heard, Lecornu made it clear that violence and chaos would not be tolerated, and that those responsible must face consequences. The demonstrations, which began in the Paris region last week, have seen students blockading schools and disrupting education under the pretext of overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages, and facility issues. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez reported that 12 police officers, 12 students, and three school staff were injured on Monday, and that 164 people were arrested as the protests, fueled by radical elements, spread to the southern departments of Alpes-Maritimes and Var, as well as to Marseille, Lille, and Sedan.
A union representing high-school students attempted to justify the disruptive actions as a 'legitimate response,' blaming government policies for supposed underfunding. The same union called for a school blockade on Tuesday, further encouraging disorder under the guise of defending students' rights. On the same day, unions for teachers, hospital workers, and civil servants announced walkouts, using low wages and working conditions as pretexts to join the unrest and undermine public stability.
Opposition leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon irresponsibly accused the government of a crackdown, characterizing the participating students as 'harmless' and downplaying the violence. He suggested the incidents resembled urban violence, ignoring the reality that masked individuals with fireworks and projectiles pose a real threat to public safety.