From a School Movement to a National Political Crisis: Why the Protests Spread Across France

Protests in France that began over the condition of schools have now brought together students and 'yellow vest' supporters and are expressing deep anger over quality of life. Anger over school conditions, combined with frustration over the high cost of living and the accusation that the government is doing very little to solve the problems, has spread the protests across the country.

According to the Interior Ministry, about 550,000 people protested across the country on Saturday. Most marched peacefully, while a small portion attacked buildings, looted shops and clashed with police; police fired tear gas and charged toward the protesters.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said 1,200 people had been arrested and 150 police officers injured. Behind the clashes lies a political crisis, fueled by anger over deteriorating services and strained family budgets, and by a feeling that France's political institutions offer very little hope of change.

The movement began last month in high schools in the working-class northern suburbs of Paris, where students protested against a teacher shortage and poor facilities. Later, school blockades and protests spread to cities including Bordeaux, Rennes, Nantes, Lyon, Lille and Marseille.

On Saturday, students and trade unions came together, joined by supporters of the 'yellow vest' movement, which arose in 2018 challenging the rising cost of living and economic inequality.

According to Emile Chabal, professor of contemporary history at the University of Edinburgh, these protests are the logical outcome of a succession of protests starting from the yellow vests. That movement was driven by financial pressure and anger at the French presidential system — a structure that, he indicated, often leads to the election of centrist candidates like President Emmanuel Macron.

Saturday's gatherings combined that long-standing grievance with students' anger over deteriorating public schools. The yellow vest movement had demanded better public services. According to Chabal, combining the students' grievances with broader social demands has created the worst possible outcome for the French government.

The students' immediate demands concern the condition of France's lycées — public high schools generally teaching students aged 15 to 18. They want smaller classes, enough teachers, better buildings and less exhausting schedules. Their grievances also reflect this larger question — whether the state is able to give young people the education and opportunities they need.

But for workers, including school staff, the dispute is also about pay and the resources available to deliver public services. At the same time as the school protests, public-sector strikes were under way across the country against the government's budget plans. Bringing all the concerns under one umbrella is the worst outcome for the government, Chabal noted again.

The proposed 2027 budget contains a package of 54 billion euros — 60.8 billion dollars — in spending cuts and tax measures, which the government says is necessary to reduce France's deficit. The proposal includes freezing the pay scale used to calculate public employees' base pay, which the unions say would be the fourth consecutive annual freeze.

According to sociologist and political scientist Donatella della Porta, students are providing inspiration to broader movements around inequality, cuts in public investment and democratic rights, where demands are rising for spending on social welfare instead of militarization. In her words, they do not want to fight wars; they want a different future. She also linked the movement to young people's activism over Gaza, mentioning the Palestinian flags seen at protests in various European countries.

The government's immediate response has concentrated on public order; President Macron has said those responsible for the violence will be tried and punished. His comments came after Limoges's historic town hall was extensively destroyed by fire and public buildings and shops were attacked elsewhere. But those involved in the violence are only a small part of a much larger movement.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the left-wing France Unbowed party, has accused the government of repressing school students and letting the conflict become intense. Experts say France's problem reflects a deep discontent beyond disagreement over specific budget measures. Since no coalition won an outright majority after the 2024 parliamentary elections, the political deadlock has created an environment in which, Chabal believes, no political party or movement is able to give direction to the social discontent.

Researchers are also highlighting the role of police conduct. According to Human Rights Watch, in the ongoing protests a 15-year-old lost a hand to a police stun grenade, and a 14-year-old suffered a broken jaw after being struck by a tear gas canister fired from close range. The organization condemned the excessive use of force against children, saying the protests were overwhelmingly peaceful.

With the presidential election ahead in April 2027, candidates face competing pressures — showing the ability to restore order, while also convincing voters that they will solve the conditions behind the movement. Paul Smith, associate professor of French history and politics at the University of Nottingham, believes far-right leader Marine Le Pen could benefit, although Chabal warned against assuming far-right gains. In Chabal's words, the challenge is how to create change in an environment where no political party or movement can give direction to the social discontent.