French PM Lecornu to suspend classes for consultations in lycées — Interia
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said that classes in French lycées will be suspended on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in order to hold internal consultations involving students. The decision was announced amid lycée blockades and demonstrations against the worsening situation in education, Interia reports.
Students’ and educators’ demands
Students, university students, trade unions, politicians and parents of schoolchildren are taking part in protests in various French cities. Lycée students are demanding additional funding for institutions, complaining about the poor condition of buildings, overcrowded classes and excessive workloads for teachers.
Among the problems cited by students at more poorly funded lycées is a shortage of teachers. According to them, when a teacher is absent, there is often no one to replace them. Last week, the actions became more large-scale, and clashes with police and acts of violence occurred against their backdrop.
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Estimates of protest numbers
While Lecornu was speaking in parliament, a demonstration was taking place in Paris. Organizers said there were 100,000 participants, while France’s Interior Ministry estimated the number present at 56,000. According to French authorities’ estimates, up to 250,000 people may have taken to the streets across the country in total.
Police said that about 300 aggressively minded individuals attempted to attack law enforcement officers in Paris. In Strasbourg, according to a Polsat News correspondent, more than 10,000 people took part in the demonstration; several clashes between protesters and police also occurred in the city.
Lecornu rejected claims that police had received political instructions to use repressive measures against students. He also accused the party La France Insoumise of fomenting the protests and attempting to destabilize the country ahead of next year’s presidential election.
