France sees nationwide protests over school funding, police deploy tear gas and make arrests
More than 250,000 people demonstrated across France demanding increased education funding, prompting police use of tear gas and the detention of nearly 500 protesters, including many students.
Police deployed tear gas and water cannons in Paris and other cities on Tuesday as demonstrations against school funding cuts swelled to an estimated 266,000 participants nationwide, according to the Interior Ministry. The protests, which began in a Paris-area high school in mid-September, have spread to Marseille, Strasbourg and Lille, where adult demonstrators voiced support for the students.
In Paris, about 56,000 people gathered, and small groups clashed with riot officers at a city square after a largely peaceful march. The ministry reported nearly 500 arrests on the day, adding that the police response was proportionate in "almost all cases" despite some incidents turning into riots.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez defended the tactics, while Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said the government and school leaders must listen to the students' concerns. Lecornu also rejected allegations of police racism as "a lie" and pledged investigations into any accidents.
The protests have prompted school closures, with classes suspended at 891 schools on Tuesday. The Education Ministry responded by launching an online portal for high-school students to submit anonymous complaints about conditions such as inadequate facilities, staff shortages and overcrowded classrooms.
Student leaders, including Suzanne Nijdam of the federation of student associations, warned that demonstrations will continue until the demands are met, urging the government to prioritize youth and education funding.