Rallies backing high school students who have blocked school entrances were held across France on October 13, according to Taiwan's Liberty Times. The Interior Ministry counted about 161,500 participants, while organizing unions estimated 480,000.
Liberty Times reported early on October 14 that rallies in support of protesting students were held across France. The Interior Ministry put turnout at about 161,500, up from 71,500 at nationwide demonstrations on October 8, more than double. The unions that organized the events estimated 480,000 nationwide, a wide gap that shows how much counts depend on the method used.
광고 문의 · 300×250Marches took place in Paris and nearby Saint-Denis, Lyon, Nantes, Lens, Strasbourg, Toulouse, Bordeaux and Marseille. Students, teachers and union leaders joined, and Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was reported to have taken part in Saint-Denis. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the far-left France Unbowed party, which backs the protesters, was seen in the Paris crowd.
Background to the protest
According to the Liberty Times, the student movement began last month, when high school students blocked entrances to many schools to demand better learning conditions. The report did not list their specific demands or say how the government has responded, and we could not confirm either point.
The political backdrop matters. President Emmanuel Macron's centrist government is trying to pass a spending-cut budget amid worsening debt and unease in the bond market. Macron is finishing his second and final term, and France is due to elect his successor in about six months. The student protests are therefore being read alongside broader anger over the budget and living costs.
Numbers and scenes
Unions and student groups expect the student protests to merge with a nationwide demonstration on October 17 against rising living costs. With turnout swelling since October 8, observers will watch whether that day draws more people, though the real size will depend on weather, the government's response and the budget talks.
Most rallies were peaceful, but violence broke out near one of two Paris marches. AFP reporters saw vehicles set alight, and police fired tear gas as masked youths tried to build barricades and throw objects. Police also used tear gas in Lyon. The report did not give figures for injuries or arrests, and we could not confirm them.
The Liberty Times report carried no official government statement, so we could not establish whether the government will offer concessions to the students or adjust its budget timetable. The October 17 national protest and the budget debate that follows are likely to be the first real test of the mood in France ahead of the presidential race.
