Protestsupdated 55m ago2 min read
Archive photo · 8 June 2025Macron Finalizes Forceful Measures To Respond To Student Demands In France
5 Western Mainstream2 Other1 Local Western1 Western AlternativePhoto: European Commission / © European Union, 2026, CC BY 4.0 · Cropped for layout
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Macron to unveil concrete and strong measures addressing high school student demands. Prime Minister Lecornu to announce the measures as protests persist after weeks of unrest.
9 outlets told this the same way.
Macron promises measures
Emmanuel Macron told reporters in Marseille that his government is finalizing "forceful" measures to respond to the "legitimate demands" of the student movement. Macron warned that next Saturday would still be a high-risk day, and he said the government would keep "specially designated mobilization routes" for demonstrations.
Laurent Nuñez told BFM that Halloween evening is traditionally "always a bit lively" and that authorities expect it to be "complicated again". Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is set to hold a news conference after meeting with high school student unions, and France 24 said the meeting would be followed by a government announcement of "concrete and strong" measures.
Security, arrests, injuries
Laurent Nuñez told BFMTV that the day was brought under control and that there were "no serious incidents," while he added that authorities saw a "very high level of violence" directed at internal security forces.
The French government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon told RTL radio that "The state prevailed this weekend. The state was strong," as the government said curfews helped maintain relative order on October 24.
DW said the curfews came as authorities deployed 70,000 police officers across the country and made 1,435 arrests during last Saturday's protests.
France 24 reported that 267 police officers and gendarmes were injured, along with 150 protesters, including three seriously hurt in Toulouse, Reims and Clermont-Ferrand.
Opposition and next weekend
Jean-Luc Mélenchon told protesters in Paris that "Either you concede or you will have to resign," framing the student and social mobilization as a pressure that could force Macron out.
Mélenchon warned that the growing mobilization could lead to a general strike on November 5, and he said "Either Mr. Macron concedes immediately" or he would be forced to do so under "much riskier circumstances."
Macron insisted that "The response to this cannot be other than security," while he said social media "play a role in polarizing people and fueling violence" during the protests.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez told BFM that authorities expected further disturbances on October 31, and he said "We expect it to be complicated again" as new demonstrations were planned for the coming Saturday.