Nearly 400 schools in France are likely to remain closed on Friday (October 2, 2026) as student protests related to educational grievances turned violent in some places. The protest mainly erupted last month due to a shortage of teachers and dilapidated school buildings, which later turned violent, with several injured and multiple people arrested. "There is an active and violent minority (participating in the protests) ... ​We're not entirely sure that they are even high-school students themselves", Justice ⁠Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Friday. He added that 2,000 people had ​been arrested ever since the protests started. "We have ​gone from high-school student demonstrations to a public-order disturbance. When people target buses and set schools on fire, it is no longer simply a protest issue", he also said. In an interview with ​broadcaster France 2, French Education Minister Edouard Geffray said on Thursday evening that "a ​little over 400 schools and other educational establishments" would remain closed on Friday.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pentagon-new-religious-affairs-office-triggers-outrage-1790935247102">Spiritual warfare or constitutional breach? Pentagon’s new religious affairs office triggers outrage</a><h3>Schools set on fire</h3>A source close to Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu confirmed that, at a crisis meeting on Thursday, politicians began the protest movement from the hard left, including members of La France Insoumise (LFI). However, LFI lawmaker Louis Boyard refuted the claim in comments to ​French broadcasters. Officials stated that student protesters set ​fires at least two high schools on Thursday, and teachers were inadvertently splashed with petrol at a third in the southern city of ​Marseille. In Strasbourg, in eastern France, at least one vehicle was set on fire, while in Toulouse, in the southwest, riot police faced off with groups of young protesters. The unrest also spread across the border into Belgium, where high school students in Liège began demonstrating on Thursday. Local media reported that city authorities had decided to shut down all schools in Liège on Friday, though a spokesperson for the municipality had not yet confirmed the closures.&nbsp;

The protest mainly erupted last month due to a shortage of teachers and dilapidated school buildings, which later turned violent, with several injured and multiple people arrested.

Nearly 400 schools in France are likely to remain closed on Friday (October 2, 2026) as student protests related to educational grievances turned violent in some places. The protest mainly erupted last month due to a shortage of teachers and dilapidated school buildings, which later turned violent, with several injured and multiple people arrested. "There is an active and violent minority (participating in the protests) ... We're not entirely sure that they are even high-school students themselves", Justice ⁠Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Friday. He added that 2,000 people had been arrested ever since the protests started. "We have gone from high-school student demonstrations to a public-order disturbance. When people target buses and set schools on fire, it is no longer simply a protest issue", he also said. In an interview with broadcaster France 2, French Education Minister Edouard Geffray said on Thursday evening that "a little over 400 schools and other educational establishments" would remain closed on Friday. Also read: Spiritual warfare or constitutional breach? Pentagon’s new religious affairs office triggers outrage Schools set on fire A source close to Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu confirmed that, at a crisis meeting on Thursday, politicians began the protest movement from the hard left, including members of La France Insoumise (LFI). However, LFI lawmaker Louis Boyard refuted the claim in comments to French broadcasters. Officials stated that student protesters set fires at least two high schools on Thursday, and teachers were inadvertently splashed with petrol at a third in the southern city of Marseille. In Strasbourg, in eastern France, at least one vehicle was set on fire, while in Toulouse, in the southwest, riot police faced off with groups of young protesters. The unrest also spread across the border into Belgium, where high school students in Liège began demonstrating on Thursday. Local media reported that city authorities had decided to shut down all schools in Liège on Friday, though a spokesperson for the municipality had not yet confirmed the closures.

The protest mainly erupted last month due to a shortage of teachers and dilapidated school buildings, which later turned violent, with several injured and multiple people arrested.

Nearly 400 French schools to stay closed as student protests turn violent

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu survived a vote of no-confidence Thursday (October 16, 2025) that could have toppled his fragile new government and plunged France deeper into political chaos.


French PM Sebastien Lecornu survives back-to-back no-confidence votes

France's President Emmanuel Macron on Monday accepted Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu's resignation just hours after unveiling his cabinet, the presidency said, plunging the European nation further into political deadlock.

France Political Unrest: Sebastien Lecornu Resigns After Criticism of Cabinet

France has been thrown into a new political crisis after recently appointed Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu resigned just weeks into the job. Lecornu, the fifth person to hold the office in under two years, faced the daunting task of winning over a deeply divided parliament and reassuring investors that he could push through the crucial 2026 budget. Appointed in early September amid growing public discontent and political turmoil, his short tenure followed a string of governments that had struggled to pass budgets involving spending cuts and tax hikes, leaving the country’s finances and leadership in a state of flux.&nbsp;French President Emmanuel Macron accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu on Monday (October 6), just hours after the newly appointed leader revealed his cabinet lineup, the Elysee Palace announced. The sudden development has pushed France deeper into a worsening political stalemate. Lecornu, who previously served as defence minister, had been appointed prime minister only last month. However, the cabinet he presented on Sunday night — largely unchanged from the previous government — drew sharp criticism from parties across the political spectrum.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/why-this-small-pacific-country-is-seeing-a-rapid-surge-in-hiv-cases-among-teens-1759731721143">Why THIS small pacific country is seeing a rapid surge in HIV cases among teens</a><h2>Why did Sebastien Lecornu resign?</h2>He was facing the formidable challenge of steering a deeply divided parliament toward passing a tough austerity budget for the upcoming year. His two predecessors, Francois Bayrou and Michel Barnier, were both forced out after clashes with lawmakers over the same spending plan. The political turbulence comes as France grapples with mounting debt. Official figures released last week showed that the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio has climbed to the third highest in the European Union, behind only Greece and Italy — and is nearly double the 60 per cent ceiling set by EU rules.<h2>What is happening in France?</h2>For the past three years, successive governments had bypassed parliament by pushing budgets through using a constitutional mechanism that does not require a vote, a move heavily criticised by the opposition. Lecornu had recently pledged to restore parliamentary debate by allowing lawmakers to vote on the new budget. France’s legislative gridlock stems from Macron’s decision to call snap parliamentary elections last year, aiming to strengthen his hold on power. Instead, the gamble weakened his majority in the National Assembly, leaving his centrist alliance in a minority and complicating governance ever since.

France’s new Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu resigns amid political turmoil

France has been thrown into a new political crisis after recently appointed Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu resigned just weeks into the job. Lecornu, the fifth person to hold the office in under two years, faced the daunting task of winning over a deeply divided parliament and reassuring investors that he could push through the crucial 2026 budget. Appointed in early September amid growing public discontent and political turmoil, his short tenure followed a string of governments that had struggled to pass budgets involving spending cuts and tax hikes, leaving the country’s finances and leadership in a state of flux. French President Emmanuel Macron accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu on Monday (October 6), just hours after the newly appointed leader revealed his cabinet lineup, the Elysee Palace announced. The sudden development has pushed France deeper into a worsening political stalemate. Lecornu, who previously served as defence minister, had been appointed prime minister only last month. However, the cabinet he presented on Sunday night — largely unchanged from the previous government — drew sharp criticism from parties across the political spectrum. Also Read: Why THIS small pacific country is seeing a rapid surge in HIV cases among teens Why did Sebastien Lecornu resign? He was facing the formidable challenge of steering a deeply divided parliament toward passing a tough austerity budget for the upcoming year. His two predecessors, Francois Bayrou and Michel Barnier, were both forced out after clashes with lawmakers over the same spending plan. The political turbulence comes as France grapples with mounting debt. Official figures released last week showed that the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio has climbed to the third highest in the European Union, behind only Greece and Italy — and is nearly double the 60 per cent ceiling set by EU rules. What is happening in France? For the past three years, successive governments had bypassed parliament by pushing budgets through using a constitutional mechanism that does not require a vote, a move heavily criticised by the opposition. Lecornu had recently pledged to restore parliamentary debate by allowing lawmakers to vote on the new budget. France’s legislative gridlock stems from Macron’s decision to call snap parliamentary elections last year, aiming to strengthen his hold on power. Instead, the gamble weakened his majority in the National Assembly, leaving his centrist alliance in a minority and complicating governance ever since.

Sebastian Lecornu was appointed as the prime minister of the country in early September this year. He was France's fifth prime minister in a gap of less than two years