'Horse-mounted' intervention from the police in the streets of France, which turned into a battlefield
High school students, who found the government's statements insufficient, took to the streets and clashes broke out between the police and activists in many cities.
Quick Look
- High school students in France, who found the government's promises insufficient, started protests that led to the closure of 375 schools across the country.
- While there were police interventions and arrests in Lyon and Paris, the government argued that the security forces did not use disproportionate force.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
High school students continue their protests, finding Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu's promises insufficient. While the government defends the intervention of security forces, violence occurs.
According to local media reports, after Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu in France promised to take concrete steps in response to the demands of high school students, high school students who did not find the government's statements sufficient took to the streets again. Many education and labor unions also called for support to the actions.
While education in high schools is suspended until the weekend, 375 high schools across the country are partially or completely closed today. The administration of Lyon 2 University in Lyon also announced that education was suspended today in different campuses due to protests and the risk of siege.
While the protests continued in many cities, especially the capital Paris, the French police took intense security measures in front of schools and squares. Minister of Education Edouard Geffray announced that he will meet with representatives of the three high school unions that organized the protests at 15:00 local time.
DETENTION WITH PEPPER GAS
Activists set fire to the entrance of the Etienne Mimard High School in Saint-Etienne in the Loire province. 2 police officers were injured in the protests. 7 people were detained in the ongoing protests in 31 schools in Lyon.
During the protests in front of the Helene-Bouche High School in Vincennes, one of the suburbs of Paris, a fight broke out between the police and high school students. The police intervened against the protesters with pepper gas.
GOVERNMENT: THERE IS NO DISPROPORTIONATE POWER IN THE POLICE
At a time when criticism about the disproportionate use of force by the police in the protests, which occasionally included violence, increased criticism, Government Spokesperson Maud Bregeon defended the intervention of the security forces in the protests in a broadcast on the France Info channel. Spokesperson Bregeon said, "There is no disproportionate amount of weapons (in the hands of police) in France" and added that high school students are not "in danger" from the security forces.
Describing the events in which high school students were injured as "dramatic", Bregeon reminded that hundreds of security guards were also injured in the protests.
On the other hand, center-right Christelle Morançais, President of the Pays de la Loire Region, stated in the broadcast on the TF1 channel that Nelson Mandela High School, one of the schools set on fire by high school students, is closed and it is not yet known when the damage will be repaired.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS WERE TAKEN AGAINST MORE THAN 6,500 PEOPLE
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Three high school union representatives will meet with the Minister of Education.
Very likely · Within hours
Open Questions
- What will be the outcome of the meeting between the Minister of Education and union representatives?
- It is unclear how long the protests will last across the country.
