Hawzah News Agency- Police were deployed in large numbers to prevent a repeat of last weekend’s unrest which saw shops looted, cars burned and public buildings attacked. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said up to 70,000 police officers and gendarmes would be deployed nationwide, supported by helicopters, armoured vehicles and water cannons.
Trade unions led Saturday’s procession, followed by demonstrators carrying flags and handmade placards. Some protesters accused the government of using last weekend’s violence to restrict demonstrations.
Police also used tear gas in Lyon, where the rally had been banned. In Clermont-Ferrand, officers used tear gas and stun grenades to push back demonstrators trying to reach the city centre, according to French media reports.
What started last month as a protest over staff shortages at a high school southeast of Paris has developed into a wider movement against the cost of living and public service problems.
Students are demanding 250,000 additional higher education places, more teachers and repairs to schools and universities. They also want an extra €200 a month in student grants and a rent freeze in public student accommodation.
Education Ministry figures show that 15.4 million teaching hours were lost in public middle and high schools during the 2024-25 academic year because absent teachers were not replaced. This accounted for 7.5% of scheduled teaching time.
Source: news9live.com
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