France is preparing for a nationwide wave of student protests tomorrow after a week of violent blockades that have hurt at least 190 students and seen over 5,000 arrests.
On Monday a 15‑year‑old boy in Lens had his hand blown off amid a clash with police, and another student was struck on the head by a tear‑gas grenade in Saint‑Ouen‑l’Aumône, forcing a double‑jaw fracture and a major operation. At least 24 schools have been burned or ransacked during the unrest.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said the government will introduce “visible changes” to address students’ grievances, but the Union Syndicale Lycéenne (USL), the main protest organiser, reported that the offer was vague and “nothing concrete”.
The protests, which began in September in Paris and have spread nationwide, demand better funding, more teachers, smaller class sizes and safer classrooms.
Politically, the turmoil has been charged: the Labor‑Left La France Insoumise praises the campaign as the most powerful student movement since 1968, while the far‑right National Rally calls for new anti‑riot laws, accusing the left of orchestrating professional‑style riots.
Official statistics show that of the 5,060 people detained, 87% were minors. Fourteen detainees remain in pre‑trial custody and 1,802 face prosecution, including 319 adults and 1,483 minors.
Police describe their actions as “extremely proportionate”, contrasting sharply with USL’s allegations of excessive force. The protests and the heavy police presence have become a flashpoint in France’s political landscape, with the next presidential election still months away.
