Tense Calm in France After Days of Violent Student Protests and Riots

France experienced a tense calm on Saturday following days of widespread riots and violent student protests over the deteriorating condition of the national education system. The demonstrations quickly degenerated into chaos marked by arson, vandalism, and severe violence. While no major new clashes were reported today, student organizations backed by the far-left and labor unions have called for continued protests and a "day of rage" next Tuesday.

According to reports, at least 5,000 people have been arrested since Monday, though many are believed to have been released. Hundreds have been injured, including more than 300 police and security personnel, 65 educational staff members—among them 40 school principals—and 170 students. On Friday alone, 1,747 individuals were arrested, following 1,954 arrests on Thursday. Hundreds of schools remained blocked, forcing many students to shift to remote learning.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez noted that out of 735 educational institutions surrounded by protests, "urban violence" was recorded near 158 facilities. He stated that about 85% of those arrested are minors, though many may not actually attend the schools near the unrest. Nuñez described the massive protests as "surprising," attributing their rapid escalation to social media and organizational assistance from the far-left party La France Insoumise (LFI), led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon.

Mélenchon, who is running in next year's presidential election, expressed support for the protests but denied that his party was behind them, dismissing the claims as "conspiracy theories" and accusing security forces of using excessive force. However, President Emmanuel Macron's government maintains it has intelligence pointing to LFI's involvement, with Nuñez warning that the violence has gotten "out of control." Meanwhile, Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin called on parents to take responsibility for their children, demanding that prosecutors pursue civic liability against parents to pay for damages.

Extensive property damage, estimated in the tens of millions of euros, has been reported across several regions. In the Île-de-France region surrounding Paris, damages are estimated at €7 million, while in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, losses range between €25 million and €30 million. In Nantes, the entrance to the Nelson Mandela high school was torched, with repair costs estimated at at least €2 million. The protests initially began last week over school conditions and merged on Tuesday with a broader public sector strike, coinciding with a tense political atmosphere ahead of next year's presidential election, where far-right leader Marine Le Pen leads in the polls.