French students protest in major cities / 200,000 people are expected at demonstrations organized across the country

Protests by students in France spread on Tuesday, October 6, to Paris, Marseille, Strasbourg, and Lyon, where the demonstrations disrupted activities at approximately 1,800 high schools. Education unions and parent organizations joined the protesters, and nearly 200,000 people are expected to attend demonstrations organized throughout the country.

Students complain about the overloaded school curriculum, conditions in educational institutions, and insufficient funding for the education system. They are calling for improved conditions in high schools and the allocation of additional funds.

Most protests took place peacefully, but the first tensions were reported in Paris and Lyon. In recent days, some demonstrations escalated into clashes with law enforcement, acts of vandalism, and arson. More than 5,000 people, most of them minors, were detained, while 14 are in pretrial detention. Nearly 200 young people and 65 police officers and gendarmes were injured, while more than 400 high schools were damaged.

The movement also spread to Belgium, where violence, arrests, and attacks on law enforcement were reported, including in Liège.