More than 400 people have been detained across France during student protests over worsening conditions in schools, while tens of thousands of public-sector workers staged a nationwide strike demanding higher wages and better working conditions.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said 440 people were detained on Tuesday, with about two-thirds placed in police custody. The protests affected around 400 of France’s nearly 3,700 schools.
High school students blocked entrances to schools in several cities, protesting overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages and demanding school schedules. Clashes were reported in Lille, Bordeaux, Rennes, Nantes and Marseille.
In Lille, some protesters reportedly burned rubbish bins and threw bottles and paving stones at police, who responded with tear gas. Nunez said police officers were targeted with hydrochloric acid on seven occasions, while 48 officers were injured nationwide.
In Paris, students protested against long school hours, with one placard reading: “8am-6pm. More hours of lessons than sleep.”
The protests have drawn political reactions. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu condemned violence around schools and called for calm. Meanwhile, France Unbowed leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon accused the government of ordering a crackdown on the student protesters, a claim rejected by Lecornu.
Student union leader Ryad Rani said students were protesting because of a lack of resources, overcrowded classrooms and shortages of teachers and other staff. He called for the demonstrations to remain peaceful.
Public workers join nationwide strike
The student protests coincided with a nationwide one-day strike by public-sector workers, including teachers, firefighters and healthcare employees.
Trade unions estimated that about 300,000 people participated nationwide, while police put attendance at 30,000 in Paris.
The workers are demanding higher salaries, improved working conditions and changes to the government’s proposed budget cuts.
Unions say the government plans to freeze public-sector base salaries in 2027 as part of efforts to save €2 billion. They are demanding a 6 percent pay rise, arguing that repeated salary freezes have reduced workers’ purchasing power.
Sophie Binet, leader of the General Confederation of Labor, described the demonstrations as a “red alert” and warned that further strike action could follow if the government does not reconsider its budget plans.
The strikes came two days before the government was due to present its draft budget and about seven months before France’s presidential election.
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