France School Protests

France Student Protests Over Budget Cuts Lead to Hundreds of Detentions

France faced nationwide strikes and student protests, with civil servants walking off the job and students blocking hundreds of schools over budget cuts, teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, and overcrowded classroom. The protests were held two days before Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu's government is set to present its 2027 budget, which includes a planned €54 billion savings programme. The education ministry said around 400 of the country's roughly 3,700 schools were affected by protests or disruptions. Over 400 people, most of them minors, were detained during the unrest, including 10 teachers, several students and 48 law enforcement officers. The government is attempting to reduce France's deficit and debt ahead of the presidential election. The public debt stood at €3.595 trillion at the end of June, equal to around 119% of GDP.

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