Student protests in France turn political ahead of presidential election
Student protests at nearly 600 French lycées over learning conditions have grown into unrest, with about 5,000 people detained. They are also affecting the race for a place in the second round of the presidential election, due in seven months.
Students at nearly 600 lycées (upper secondary schools) and other institutions in France, including 30 universities, are protesting over the state of the education system. The demonstrations began as demands for better learning conditions but have since taken on a political dimension. The French presidential election is about seven months away, and the protests are influencing the candidates' prospects.
From an enrolment fee to wider demands
The initial trigger was a government proposal to introduce an enrolment fee for students at technical schools, put forward as one of the measures to stabilise the state budget. Grievances multiplied quickly. Students want schools renovated, fewer pupils in overcrowded classes, and higher pay and more numbers for teachers, since the teacher shortage in France has become chronic. The government withdrew the proposal, but the protests continued.
French media across the political spectrum describe the education system as long underfunded. Le Monde called the situation a "chronicle of prolonged neglect", while Le Figaro, which condemns the violence, conceded that the students' anger has a genuine basis. Last week about 5,000 people were detained for various offences, and most of them were schoolchildren, mainly minors.
Election calculations
Opinion polls make Marine Le Pen, the de facto leader of the National Rally, the clear favourite, with an average of about 35% in the first round. What remains unclear is who will face her in the second round. The contenders include former prime minister Gabriel Attal (17–20%), another former prime minister, Édouard Philippe, the radical-left Jean-Luc Mélenchon, and the Republicans' Laurent Wauquiez (8–10%). In OpinionWay modelling of a second round against Le Pen, Mélenchon would get 36–40%, Attal 46–48% and Philippe 47–49%.
The author of the source article argues that prolonged protests hurt Attal and Philippe while improving Mélenchon's chances of reaching the runoff. Media sympathetic to the centrists criticise him for this.
Economic backdrop
Bloomberg points to France's growing debt, political instability and investor distrust. Anti-crisis measures during the pandemic cost the state about €190 billion, and the energy crisis a further €72 billion.
