France Students Force PM to Negotiate After 500 Detained, 71,500 March Nationwide

France Students Force PM to Negotiate After 500 Detained, 71,500 March Nationwide

French students vow to keep protesting poor school conditions despite government promises, as political parties take sides ahead of elections.

· 2 min read ·
europeelectionshuman rights

French students are refusing to back down from nationwide protests over poor classroom conditions and police brutality, even after the prime minister promised to bring in measures to address their complaints [257709]. The standoff has become the biggest domestic challenge for the French government in recent weeks, with political parties now choosing sides as elections approach [257704].

More than 70,000 people demonstrated across France on Thursday, according to the interior ministry, which counted 71,500 protesters nationwide [257699]. Students blocked the entrances of hundreds of high schools, and riot police were sent in. Some clashes turned violent, and police detained more than 500 people [257699].

The protests have rocked the country for over a week [257699]. On Tuesday, hundreds of thousands marched across France. The interior ministry counted 256,000 protesters, while organizers said 450,000 took part. Teachers, parents, university students, and labor unions joined the demonstrations. More than 6,000 people were detained [255584].

The government has taken its first step back. It has invited student representatives to the negotiating table [255584]. On Wednesday, the prime minister said the government will create a plan to answer the students' concerns [257704].

But students say they will keep protesting in the streets. A France 24 reporter, Claire Paccalin, said the students "are not looking like they are willing to back down" [257709]. Their promise to continue came after the prime minister spoke [257704].

Political parties in France are now reacting to the student movement. Each party is choosing how to respond as elections get closer [257704]. The demonstrations continue despite government efforts to calm the crisis [257699].

Sources

France protests: 70,000 demand better schools, police detained 500 #257699France: Students force government to negotiate after mass protests #255584France’s student protests: parties take sides as PM promises plan #257704France protests: Students refuse to back down despite PM's promises #257709

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