Macron deploys 70,000 police as student protests intensify in France

French President Emmanuel Macron has deployed 70,000 police officers to manage a wave of student protests, a move he says is necessary to restore order after recent unrest. The government is framing the demonstrations through a security lens, while student organizers argue the movement stems from years of neglected infrastructure and financial strain.

Violent clashes have dominated international coverage, featuring smashed windows, looting, and fires. Officials point to these incidents to justify a heavily securitized response. However, education advocates argue that focusing on the chaos obscures the specific grievances driving the mobilization, particularly in secondary schools across the country.

The state has detained thousands of demonstrators since the protests began in September. By October 14, police had placed 7,950 people in custody, 85 percent of whom were minors. Another 2,700 were detained following the October 17 demonstrations, and police recorded 1,000 arrests on October 25. These figures place the current movement among the most heavily repressed protest actions of the century.

Injuries sustained during police encounters have drawn sharp criticism. Fourteen-year-old Eden suffered a fractured jaw from a tear gas grenade. Sixteen-year-old Mael lost sight in one eye after a suspected rubber bullet strike. Fifteen-year-old Evan lost a hand to a stun grenade. These cases highlight the physical toll of the government's tactical approach to crowd control.

Behind the scenes, the educational infrastructure students are demanding reform for is in visible decline. In Acoua, Mayotte, Cite du Nord secondary school houses 2,300 pupils in a building designed for 900. The site faces water supply failures and staff shortages. Similar complaints regarding mold, broken windows, and unsafe water have emerged from schools in Sevran, Pantin, and Bagnolet near Paris.

The Ministry of Education reports that 20.2 million teaching hours were missed in state secondary schools during the 2024 to 2025 academic year, excluding Mayotte. Fifteen million of those hours were lost due to absent teachers who were not replaced. Lucas Chancel, a French economist, notes that government spending per student has fallen by 20 percent since 2017. Poverty rates have reached their highest levels since the 1990s, with 9.8 million people living below the official line.

Macron met with 20 students on Friday and promised reforms to the university entrance platform, but did not address the core demands regarding secondary education funding. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has urged the political left to choose a side, framing the conflict as a battle between the Republic and violent agitators. Macron has accused the far left of attempting to destabilize the republic, while the far right has criticized the origins of some protesters. The government has pledged to ban further protests, signaling a continued reliance on enforcement over negotiation.