Hundreds of thousands of high school students demonstrate in France against the backdrop of next spring's presidential election

[Paris Current Affairs] On the 6th, large numbers of high school students held street demonstrations across France demanding improvements to the learning environment at their schools. University students and labor union officials also joined, and according to AFP news agency, organizers announced that 450,000 people (Ministry of Interior estimates 256,000) participated. Most of the protests were peaceful, but some clashed with police and became chaotic.

On that day, high schools in the capital Paris and other areas were blocked by students, disrupting classes at 891 schools nationwide. On the 5th, a number of people were injured in the northern city of Reims, including a 15-year-old boy who lost the use of one hand after being seriously injured by a sonic bullet thrown by police as a threat.

The protests began in September and spread across the country with the backing of the radical leftist party France Indomitable. Jean-Luc Mélenchon (75), the de facto leader of the party and supported by young people, intends to run for president in next spring's presidential election, and a right-wing media poll found that 55% of respondents believed that ``high school students are being taken advantage of.''

Prime Minister Le Cornu promised on the 4th to "respond to the complaints of high school students," including renovating aging school buildings and equipment, expanding the number of teachers, and considering increasing the education budget. Meanwhile, Mélenchon urged the intensification of protests, saying, "The 6th is a starting point. We will connect the mobilization (of high school students) and heightened political awareness to 2027."