Police deployed tear gas to disperse crowds in Paris and other French cities on Tuesday as more than 250,000 people took to the streets to support high school students protesting against poor educational conditions. The demonstrations, which began in late September, involve students aged 15 to 17 who have been blocking entrances to hundreds of high schools, citing concerns over deteriorating facilities and teacher shortages.
The nationwide protests escalated into clashes with authorities, resulting in nearly 500 arrests. The interior ministry reported 488 detainees and 43 injuries among security personnel. Some demonstrations turned violent, with instances of fires set, bus shelters destroyed, and confrontations between demonstrators and riot police. Police described around 300 individuals as hostile during confrontations near the conclusion of protests in Paris, where some protesters threw stones at officers equipped with riot shields.
President Emmanuel Macron convened an emergency meeting late Tuesday with senior officials, including Interior Minister Laurent Nunez and Education Minister Edouard Geffray, to address the unrest. The demonstrations drew support from parents, teachers, and union members alongside students, mobilizing significant numbers especially in Paris.
Rights groups, union representatives, and student leaders have accused police of using excessive force during the protests. In a notable incident on Monday, a teenager lost a hand following the deployment of a stun grenade by police. Additionally, a 14-year-old student was severely injured after being struck in the face by a tear gas grenade fired at close range in northwest Paris; a police officer has been charged in connection with that case.
At a large rally held at Paris’s Place de la République, demonstrators carried banners demanding increased funding for education, with slogans such as “Neglected schools, sacrificed youth.” Among participants was 19-year-old Lila, who said the younger generation wants their voices heard and hopes that the government responds to their demands.
The unrest unfolds against the backdrop of France’s approaching 2027 presidential election. Far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, currently polling strongly despite a recent graft conviction, could see her support bolstered by the ongoing turmoil. Meanwhile, some political commentators view the protests as part of broader social and fiscal challenges facing France, including strained public finances and slow economic growth.
France’s fiscal situation is characterized by high public debt, elevated deficits, and an economic growth rate projected to remain below 1 percent annually. The government faces pressure between maintaining social spending and implementing reforms to encourage growth and reduce debt. Critics of various political leaders suggest that the recent protests reflect deeper dissatisfaction with economic stagnation and government policies rather than solely education funding issues.
Former US President Donald Trump weighed in on the situation, attributing the unrest to “mass migration” and Islam, framing it within his global right-wing political narrative ahead of upcoming elections in the United States.
As the demonstrations continue, the French government has pledged to address the students’ concerns while managing broader economic challenges, underscoring the complex interplay between social discontent and fiscal constraints shaping France’s current political landscape.