VIDEO/ Student protests escalate in France, with arrests and clashes, 76 injured

Student protests that have gripped France for days continued this Wednesday, with incidents, clashes with police and arrests reported in several cities.

In Lyon, protesters set fire to rubbish bins, while police took up positions in the areas where the gatherings were held.

According to local media, 14 people were arrested in Lyon. Meanwhile, in Lille, protesters also set fire to rubbish bins, while police used tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Television footage also showed an increased police presence in Lyon, while students gathered near educational institutions in Lille and Saint-Denis, north of Paris.

The toll from the protests in recent days has also worsened because of the number of people injured. French Education Minister Edouard Geoffrey said that 76 people, including students and education staff, had been injured since the protests began.

“Since the start of these protests, 76 people have been injured, both students and staff,” Geoffrey told RTL radio. The protests and blockades began last week and coincided with a broader public-sector strike on Tuesday. They have become one of the main sources of political tension in France at a time when the government is facing increased pressure over public finances.

On Thursday, the government is expected to present France’s budget for 2027, which is expected to include measures to cut spending and reduce pressure on public finances.

Politicians from the radical left-wing party France Unbowed have also taken part in the student protests. Representatives of other political camps have criticized the party, accusing it of contributing through its rhetoric to fuelling students’ anger. Saint-Denis Mayor Bali Bagayoko, who is a member of France Unbowed, is also at the center of the controversy. He has said that his positions have been misinterpreted.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said that around 440 people were arrested during Tuesday’s protests, most of them minors. According to him, seven incidents were also recorded during the unrest in which protesters threw hydrochloric acid at members of the security forces. The protests are linked to concerns among students and pupils about conditions in the education system. They complain about overcrowded classrooms and a lack of teachers.

According to the OECD, France’s public spending on primary and secondary education is at an average level compared with the organization’s member countries. It increased between 2015 and 2022, although its share of the budget declined slightly. The French government has described the protests as irresponsible, but has acknowledged that the problems facing secondary schools must be recognized and addressed.