Student protests in France: 164 people have been arrested / The French Prime Minister warns that any escalation would be “irresponsible”

France’s Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, warned that any escalation of the student protests would be “irresponsible” after 164 people were arrested in several areas of the country on Monday. The demonstrations began last week in the Île-de-France region and spread to other regions amid grievances over overcrowded classes, a lack of teachers, deteriorating schools and pressure from the Parcoursup platform.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced that 12 police officers, 12 students and three members of school staff were injured, while 180 schools were affected. Blockades, acts of vandalism, fires and fireworks directed at law enforcement were reported during the protests. Four high schools were blockaded in the Alpes-Maritimes and Var regions, while demonstrations also took place in Marseille, Lille and Sedan.

Lecornu condemned the violence but acknowledged that problems affecting high schools must be addressed. The High School Students’ Trade Union considers the protests a legitimate response to the lack of resources and called on students to continue blocking schools. Meanwhile, teachers and public-sector employees were called to strike. Authorities are also investigating an incident in which a student was allegedly injured by a projectile fired by police.