Students blockade schools and universities as France prepares for mass gatherings
Students blocked dozens of high schools and universities across France on Tuesday to keep up pressure on the government over education reforms, as unions prepared for a national strike.
The school protests have fueled a broader movement against soaring prices and insufficient public services, which has brought hundreds of thousands of people to the streets over the past three weekends. Clovis Casali from FRANCE 24 returns to a high school blocked by students in Aubervilliers, near Paris.
Firefighters control the Aubervilliers fire
Firefighters started a fire Aubervilliers, a suburb northeast of Paris, under control, says Ciara Boulman of FRANCE 24.
Trash fire brought under control in front of the Le Corbusier high school in Aubervilliers
From Aubervilliers, northeast of Paris, FRANCE 24’s Pauline Godart said a trash fire outside the Le Corbusier high school had been put out.
“The situation is calm for the moment, despite the fire in a few trash cans,” reports Pauline Godart. “Firefighters arrived to put out the fire. A large number of police officers were deployed.”
About 17% of public primary school teachers expected to strike, ministry says
The French education ministry said 17.5% of public primary school teachers are expected to strike today.
Students are protesting against living conditions in schools and growing uncertainty about their future.
“We try to continue to mobilize as much as possible. Some people don’t do it because they are afraid. Many people are afraid of police violence,” Irma de Banville, a 19-year-old student in Paris, told Reuters.
The French government has defended the police tactics while saying any abuses would be investigated.
Paris court authorizes another protest route proposed by police
A Paris court on Wednesday evening approved an alternative protest route proposed by the police headquarters between Place de la République and Place de la Nation, which had been contested by strike organizers.
The inter-union coalition expects between 500,000 and 700,000 people to join strikes outside Paris and between 40,000 and 80,000 people in the capital.
After demonstrations marked by violence and clashes with the police, in particular on October 17, today’s national strikes focus in particular on protests against alleged violations of the freedom to demonstrate. Organizations such as the Syndicat de la Magistrature (SM), the Syndicat des Avocats de France (SAF) and the Ligue des Droits de l’Homme (LDH) denounced an “authoritarian turn” and filed a complaint with the highest French court.
Around 70,000 police officers deployed across the country
French authorities have sought to ease tensions after riots and looting on October 17 that caught security forces off guard, leaving shops and public buildings damaged across the country and fueling criticism of Macron’s handling of the crisis.
“We are extremely vigilant because there is no question of reliving October 17,” said government spokesperson Maud Brégeon during a press conference after the council of ministers on Wednesday.
About 70,000 police officers have been deployed across the country and domestic intelligence services expect between 500,000 and 700,000 people to join protests outside Paris, he said.
Macron called a meeting on defense and security on Wednesday before the protests, highlighting how a movement that began with students’ anger over deteriorating school conditions and concerns about opportunities for young people has morphed into a broader challenge to his government.
France prepares for national strikes, new test for Macron
Hundreds of thousands of protesters are expected to march through French cities and civil servants to strike, which will pose a new test for President Emmanuel Macron after weeks of unrest that have rocked his government and dominated the agenda five months before the presidential election.
The mobilization, called by unions including the left-wing CGT, and supported by student groups, comes after protests over the cost of living, public services and education sparked the worst civil unrest France has seen in years.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of national strikes in France.
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