France: student protests and violence. The government activates its crisis unit

The protests began around a week ago and, on Wednesday, involved up to 356 schools across France, according to the Ministry of the Interior, whilst 625 people were arrested and 83 police officers and gendarmes were injured; Furthermore, since the start of the blockades, 119 students and staff members have been injured, according to the figures released by the authorities.

At least 43 billion euros, on top of last year’s investments, bringing the total to 54 billion: this is the amount allocated to the new ‘consolidation’ measures aimed at bringing the deficit-to-GDP ratio back down to 5 per cent. The French Government expects VAT revenue to rise by over €7 billion compared with 2026 and income tax revenue by over €5.7 billion. Forecasts for corporate tax revenue, however, are set to fall by 1.8 billion compared with 2026. In this way, the government would achieve an increase of 18 billion in net tax revenue, which would stand at 375.7 billion.Estimates suggest that around 1.4 billion euros will be raised from dormant bank accounts, forgotten savings accounts and unclaimed insurance policies, through a one-off levy. The rate will be 17 per cent on sums held as at 31 December 2026. As for child benefit, Paris aims to maintain it at 2026 levels by freezing the April adjustment. This is estimated to yield savings of €500 million, whilst a further €600 million would come from reducing the allowance for the start of the school year.The document also sets out a cut of over 1,000 civil servants and the introduction of a tax on kerosene suppliers, which would fund projects for sustainable aviation fuels.

In response to the austerity measures set out in the Budget Bill, particularly the cuts to the public sector, trade unions across France have called a strike. The protests, which began a couple of days ago, have seen over 300,000 people take part in around 170 marches across the country: teachers, healthcare workers, local authority staff, firefighters and even students. ‘Pour plus de services publics, plus de salaires’ (‘For more public services, higher wages’) is the protesters’ slogan. However, the protests are turning violent: clashes with the police have occurred across almost the whole of France, and many secondary schools are being occupied and vandalised. One of the most serious incidents took place this morning at a secondary school in Marseille, where the headteacher, the deputy headteacher, the head of administration and another member of the school management team “were attacked inside the school and doused with petrol”, as reported by the regional authorities. Furthermore, pupils at another secondary school in the city surrounded and set fire to a fire engine.

A headteacher in Pas-de-Calais, in northern France, was injured by a rocket fired from a fireworks launcher today, during student unrest. The local education authority has announced that it intends to file a complaint. The headteacher, who runs the Lycée Degrugillier in Auchel, near the town of Béthune, was taken to hospital by ambulance and admitted. In the department, 37 people have been arrested since this morning.

The French Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, has called an interministerial crisis meeting at Matignon following the escalation of the high school students’ protests. According to reports by Bfmtv, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, Higher Education Minister Philippe Baptiste and Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin have been summoned.

Whilst France is in turmoil, its President, Emmanuel Macron, is set to receive his Argentine counterpart, Javier Milei, today, Thursday 1 October. This meeting, too, has fuelled tensions, given the Argentine leader’s far-right views. The Élysée Palace explained that the visit forms part of a framework of cooperation aimed at maximising France’s economic and commercial interests in Latin America and fostering dialogue on relations between the European Union and the Mercosur countries.