France: The left capitalizes on student anger as government gives in to demands

Thousands of French students took to the streets again on Tuesday and blocked universities to demand more investment in high schools, while the government of Emmanuel Macron is trying to contain a protest movement that has already become a political issue less than seven months before the presidential election.

According to AFP, authorities expect between 130,000 and 200,000 protesters nationwide, after last week's protests drew between 266,000 and 450,000 people.

A movement backed by unions and the left

The day began with blockades at school entrances and marches in several cities. High school and college students, along with teachers, marched with the support of unions and sectors of the left-wing opposition in a protest demanding substitutes for absent teachers, less overloaded schedules, renovated classrooms and changes to the Parcoursup college admissions system.

According to the Student Union, around 90% of France's approximately 70 universities were blocked or closed on Tuesday in support of high school students. Education Minister Édouard Geffray stated that about 200 of the country's 3,700 high schools remained closed, a lower number than in previous weeks.

The student protest provides far-left party La France Insoumise (LFI) and other left-wing groups with a platform to channel social discontent against Emmanuel Macron's government. The president himself accused the party led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon of seeking to "capitalize" on young people's anger.

At one of the main centers of the protest, the Paul Éluard high school in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, students received support from Greta Thunberg, who did not hesitate to declare herself "enormously proud" of a protest that, for many, is more in line with her media agenda than with the students' actual demands.

"Our future is being stolen from us and, as we have seen here, schools are not getting the investment they need. This sends the message to young people that they are not a priority for society," she said.

Violence, injuries and thousands arrested

Although some of the demonstrations have been peaceful, the protests have led to clashes between police and demonstrators, with dozens injured and more than 6,800 people arrested since the movement began, according to the French Ministry of Justice. Most of those arrested are minors.

The most disturbing images have fueled the debate over the use of force by police. The Ministry of the Interior temporarily suspended the use of stun grenades while certain cases are under investigation.

There have also been attacks on school staff and police officers. Authorities reported eight injured school employees on Monday, mainly in the Paris, Bordeaux and Lyon regions, as well as one police officer injured in Marseille by fireworks launched from tubes.