From classrooms to the streets: the protest wave shaking France

Original article by Al Jazeera, published on 18 October 2026

What began in September as blockades at secondary schools in the northern suburbs of Paris, over teacher shortages and run-down buildings, has grown into a nationwide movement. On 17 October, around 550,000 people took to the streets across France, according to the Interior Ministry. They included students, trade unions and supporters of the “yellow vests”.

In an analysis published by Al Jazeera, historians, sociologists and political scientists explain how students’ demands have merged with other grievances: the cost of living, the proposed 2027 budget, which includes €54 billion in cuts and tax measures, and a political fragmentation that has made it hard for institutions to respond to this discontent since the 2024 legislative elections.

The article also looks at policing, which Human Rights Watch condemned for excessive force against minors. Guya Accornero, director of the Observatory of Democracy and Political Representation, notes that young people have faced violent repression even when using non-disruptive forms of protest.

With the presidential election due in April 2027, it remains unclear who stands to gain politically from the unrest.

Read the full article on Al Jazeera.