William Bouchardon at the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung:
It only took a spark to set France ablaze. High school protests broke out in France as the new school year had barely begun. France’s high schoolers (lycéens, aged roughly 15 to 18) voiced their anger at what they see as neglect and contempt from the government. This deep-rooted discontent recalls earlier episodes. As the movement tries to spread to universities, the authorities have only one answer: repression, and accusations against La France insoumise (LFI). The radical-left party wants to ride the wave of youth anger in its presidential campaign, while its opponents hope the movement fizzles out as quickly as possible.
Zero growth, rising unemployment, soaring fuel prices, the abandonment of ecological policies just as climate change accelerates, a new austerity budget – until now the approach of the next presidential election (due in spring 2027) seemed to be channeling that anger. In the end, the social explosion came from a group that votes little or not at all, and that feels it has nothing to lose: high schoolers in the Paris region, quickly imitated by their peers in the rest of the country. Indeed, they have plenty of reasons to be angry.
More here.
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