Image source, ReutersFrench President Emmanuel Macron has appealed for “calm” ahead of today’s protests, saying he believes in the right to protest but calling on demonstrators to show “respect for people and property”.
Earlier this week, his spokeswoman said Macron had concerns that “legitimate” concerns were being “exploited” by political forces.
France’s Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu suggested this week that student anger was being manipulated by France’s left-wing La France Insoumise party.
“Members of [Mélenchon’s] France Insoumise are instrumentalising the high school movement for their electoral advantage,” Lecornu said on Wednesday, accusing them of encouraging protests.
Following a visit to a vandalised school on Thursday, Education Minister Édouard Geffray appealed to protesters that “violence must stop” and that “only dialogue” will resolve the matter.
Jordan Bardella, the president of France’s hard-right National Rally, said he was “worried” ahead of the protests, according to comments cited in French media, saying it was an “opportunity for the chaotic France to rally behind Jean-Luc Mélenchon”, the leader of La France Insoumise.
We are yet to hear from Mélenchon himself, who has been a prominent older face among the students at rallies over the past few weeks. His party has shared details of today’s demonstrations on social media.
