Demonstrations by high school students across France to protest dilapidated school facilities and a serious shortage of teachers have been going on for weeks and show no signs of subside. With union organizations once again calling for protests from all walks of life, France is caught in a political storm caused by student demonstrations and soaring public debt yields.
● Demonstrations spread across France, with fierce clashes between police and citizens
The New York Times cited statistics from the French Ministry of the Interior. Demonstrators took to the streets in dozens of cities across France on the 6th, from Caen in the north to Marseille in the south, with an estimated 250,000 people participating. Trade union groups that stand on the same front as high school students insist that the actual number of protesters is much higher than this.
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Official data shows that about 900 schools were closed on the 6th, but students claimed that as many as 1,800 schools were closed, which is close to half of the 3,700 high schools in France. The latest statistics from the French Ministry of Education indicate that 528 schools across France were still fully or partially closed on the 7th.
The demonstrations began peacefully but quickly turned into violent clashes with riot police, with some demonstrators firing mortar-style fireworks at police. French officials revealed that at least 24 schools had been ransacked or set on fire. Official data showed that more than 6,500 people had been arrested in two weeks, and more than 750 police officers and about 300 teachers and students were injured.
● Why students protested
A major student organization that launched the demonstrations said students were seriously dissatisfied with dilapidated school buildings and infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms, overloaded timetables, shortages of teachers and staff and insufficient school funding.
Some students also called for the abolition of the state-led higher education admission screening platform, criticizing the lack of fairness in the screening process of relevant mechanisms.
"There is no ventilation in the classroom, we can't even open the windows," Issam Makhloufi, a 15-year-old student at Rosa Parks High School in St.-Denis, told The New York Times.
As President Emmanuel Macron's term comes to an end, unions and left-wing parties see the demonstrations as part of widespread social dissatisfaction. Sophie Venetitay, leader of the teachers' union who supports students, said: "After 10 years of Macron's rule, the public education system is in a state of disaster. It doesn't matter what you want."
● How did the authorities respond?
The French government strongly condemned the violence and took tough measures in response. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin said he had instructed prosecutors to pursue possible criminal liability and held the parents involved jointly and severally liable for the damage.
However, the French government also admitted that some of the students' demands were valid. Education Minister Edouard Geffray said that the government will withdraw part of the higher education registration fee increase plan that was originally included in the 2027 budget.
After meeting with student representatives on the 2nd, Gevrey announced reforms to the campus democratic mechanism to allow students to participate more fully. He also said that the Ministry of Education will formulate a plan to solve the teacher shortage problem.
● Student demonstrations collide with bond market sell-off, France is caught in a double political and economic attack
CNBC News reported that the protest, which initially started as students putting pressure on the government to solve problems such as a lack of teachers, overlong class schedules and dilapidated school buildings, has now gained support from people of all ages. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on the 7th that he would start a dialogue with high school students.
Yet the turmoil further exacerbates the economic and political challenges currently facing France. In the coming weeks, France will face difficult budget negotiations, and the government must convince all parties in Congress to reach a consensus on a fiscal adjustment plan worth tens of billions of euros. However, after the election in France in July 2024, a minority government with less than a majority is currently in power, making it difficult for the bill to be implemented.
The turbulent political situation, concerns about the fiscal deficit, and doubts about whether the minority government can implement the necessary expenditure cuts have triggered panic among market investors. French government bond yields have soared to a multi-decade high this year, sparking widespread concerns that France may be headed for a sovereign debt crisis. (Compiled by: Chen Yiwei) 1151008
