PARIS — Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said 12 members of the security forces, 12 students, and three school staff were injured on Monday. The minister reported that 180 schools were affected by the protests on Monday, while authorities arrested 164 people during the unrest.

Nuñez characterized the events as distinct from standard protest activity. He said the demonstrations were "much more like urban violence, with a number of individuals who were masked, equipped with fireworks in tubes, equipped with projectiles, who clearly wanted to confront the internal security forces." In one reported incident, a police officer fired a round from a grenade launcher used for crowd control, injuring a high school student.

Lecornu responded that the racism accusation "is an insult." "Students have a right to safety. Staff have a right to protection. Police officers have a right to respect when carrying out their duties," he wrote.

He continued, "Condemning the violence and those who attack high school students should require less effort from you than smearing those who protect them. It should be easier than fanning the flames." He warned that any escalation in the student protests would be "irresponsible".

Mélenchon posted, "Don’t touch our young people," urging France Unbowed supporters to become involved "wherever you can." Investigations have been launched into incidents involving violence between students and police officers. In the Alpes-Maritimes region, police arrested 10 high school students on allegations of setting fires, throwing projectiles, and committing other violent acts that injured two students.

The protests erupted at schools in the Paris area last week and spread to other regions. High school students are blockading classes and pushing for a nationwide spread of their protest movement for more resources. Complaints from students include deteriorating schools, teacher shortages, and heavy class schedules. The Ministry of National Education's Directorate reported that 18% of French high schools are classified as 'dilapidated' or in urgent need of renovation, according to a 2025 audit.

Why It Matters

The clash between the government and opposition leaders shows the political stakes surrounding education funding and public order ahead of the 2027 presidential election. With Mélenchon running for president and Lecornu navigating a divided parliament for the state budget, the response to student unrest serves as a test of political strength and policy prioritization for both figures.

The scale of the disruption, affecting 180 French high schools and resulting in dozens of arrests and injuries, reflects the intensity of student grievances regarding infrastructure and staffing. The involvement of France Unbowed, a party with a documented history of supporting youth movements and confronting law enforcement, frames the protests within a broader pattern of political mobilization that has persisted since 2013.

Timeline

On 12 October 2025, Laurent Marie Joseph Nuñez-Belda has served as Minister of the Interior in the second government of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu since 12 October 2025. On 2026-09-28, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu clashed with far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon over high school protests demanding more resources for education.

On 2026-09-28, "Fireworks, fires, violence near high schools: nothing justifies endangering students, staff, or police officers," Lecornu said in a post on X. On the same date, he said "the difficulties of high schools must be heard and addressed", but that "violence must be condemned unequivocally, and its perpetrators must answer for their actions". On 2026-09-28, Mélenchon blamed the Lecornu government for having "ordered the crackdown" "on the protest, adding that the high school students taking part were" "harmless". On 2026-09-28, Mélenchon defended the school protesters after Lecornu accused officials from his France Unbowed party of encouraging the demonstrations.

What's New

Further details emerged that "Fireworks, fires, violence near high schools: nothing justifies endangering students, staff, or police officers," Lecornu said in a post on X. He said "the difficulties of high schools must be heard and addressed", but that "violence must be condemned unequivocally, and its perpetrators must answer for their actions".

Contextual information notes that Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s France Unbowed party has historically supported youth-led movements, including the 2013 student protests against higher education reforms, where they played a role in mobilizing participants and amplifying demands for educational reform.

A police officer reportedly fired a round from a grenade launcher used for crowd control, injuring a high school student. Data indicates that 180 schools were affected by the protests on Monday.