French Student Leaders Meet Prime Minister, Pledge to Persist with Demonstrations

French student leaders met with Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu and two education ministers in Paris on Monday, following a weekend of demonstrations regarding high school conditions and living costs, yet vowed to continue their protests. The talks at Matignon involved National Education Minister Edouard Geffray and Higher Education Minister Philippe Baptiste alongside Lecornu, with a news conference scheduled for Monday afternoon.

For over a month, students across France have campaigned for improved school conditions and educational reforms. Demonstrations have featured school blockades, but the police response has drawn fierce criticism from students, parents, opposition politicians, and rights groups for being heavyhanded.

These events followed a weekend of protests that increased pressure on the government to deliver promised education system reforms. The unrest also included anti-racism protests in Marseille following a deadly shooting, while nationwide student actions have resulted in several teenage protesters sustaining serious injuries and thousands of arrests.