Protests by high school students and youth continue to intensify in Paris, where demonstrators have erected barricades and set fire to garbage cans. On October 14, correspondent Anastasia Rikeza reported from the scene.
“The police dispersed the protesters with tear gas today, one car has already burned down. So far, we do not see what damage has been caused to the city, but the situation remains tense,” she said.
French authorities deployed tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds while protesters on Vauban Square hurled rocks and bottles at security forces. One vehicle was completely destroyed by fire as a result.
The demonstrations began on September 29 and initially covered much of France, driven by students’ demands for improved learning conditions, reduced academic workloads, and solutions to teacher shortages. On October 5, French authorities closed up to 500 schools nationwide due to the protests.
Interior Ministry data indicates approximately 161,000 demonstrators took to the streets in a new wave of protests on October 13, including 41,000 in Paris. The chain of protests has also spread to Belgium, with youth and trade unions joining the movement.
