Student unions in France have called for renewed blockades of high schools and universities from Monday (Nov 2), as anti-government protests continue across the country, with student leaders saying the government’s proposals have failed to address their demands.
Pierre Sourzat, head of the student group “Lyceens!”, said some high schools would be blockaded when students return from a two-week holiday, with the protests expected to intensify from Tuesday. “We know that some schools will be blocked as early as tomorrow,” Sourzat told broadcaster RMC on Sunday.
French student unions have also urged students to join fresh demonstrations. Sabrina Kharbach, spokesperson for Union Etudiante, called for action alongside high school and student unions and an inter-union coalition, broadcaster BFMTV reported.
“We will block again on Thursday and then take part in the November 5 demonstration called by workers who are going on strike,” she said.
Kharbach added that students hoped to mobilise larger numbers to demonstrate the legitimacy of their demands. Manon Moret, secretary-general of the National Union of French Students (UNEF), said the government had yet to provide a concrete response to young people’s concerns.
The calls for renewed action came after hundreds of thousands of people, including high school and university students, took to the streets across France on Saturday for the third consecutive weekend of protests. The day marked the third nationwide day of social action in three weeks, with around 350 events planned across the country.
Authorities described the demonstrations as high-risk, expressing concerns over possible attempts to block the Paris ring road or target government buildings. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said around 70,000 police officers and gendarmes had been deployed nationwide.
In Paris, the Council of State overturned an administrative court ruling, allowing a demonstration to proceed along a route from Bagnolet to Charenton.
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