Emmanuel Macron calls a crisis meeting after protests over education conditions spread

French President Emmanuel Macron convened a crisis meeting in Paris on Tuesday to discuss the spread of protests over conditions in educational institutions and the risk that the demonstrations could expand to other segments of society.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez and Education Minister Edouard Geffray are expected to attend the meeting. It is the first time Macron has become directly involved in managing the student protests, which began about a week ago.

As part of Tuesday’s national day of protests, demonstrations were held in Paris and numerous other cities across France. The Interior Ministry estimated nationwide participation at 256,000 people, including approximately 56,000 at the march in the capital. Education unions put forward a much higher estimate of 450,000 participants.

The protests were initiated by pupils and students, who are calling for better-equipped schools and improved conditions in education. They were later joined by unions, parents and teachers. Some demonstrations descended into violence, and the government fears that discontent, also fueled by rising fuel prices and the increasing cost of living, could spread.