HIBAPRESS – Agencies
Several French cities witnessed protests and riots today, Thursday, as high school students continued their demonstrations.
Students are protesting the shortage of teachers and staff, overcrowded classrooms, and dilapidated buildings. University students joined the demonstrations on Thursday, demanding similar demands. The Interior Ministry announced the arrest of 1949 people yesterday, Thursday, and injuries to 305 police officers. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu held an emergency meeting on Thursday to discuss the unrest. The government later stated that the student-led demonstrations had turned into "urban violence." In this regard, the government and far-right politicians blamed the radical left for igniting the protests organized by a union representing high school students. Bally Bagayoko, the mayor of a Paris suburb and a member of the radical left party La France Insoumise, defended previous statements in which he said violence could be legitimate in some cases, pointing to instances where protesters were allegedly shot at without wearing helmets or bulletproof vests. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the La France Insoumise party and a presidential candidate, also affirmed his support for peaceful protests but believes blaming the left will not solve the issues that led to the demonstrations. Meanwhile, the leader of the far-right National Rally party, Marine Le Pen, said: "This is no longer about high school student protests, but about riots organized by professionals and overseen by deputies from La France Insoumise." The presidential candidate called for the enactment of a new law to combat riots.
