Paris (France) (AFP) – The blocking movement of high school and university students, which ignited Thursday in several large cities in France, is expected to continue on Friday, with the government hoping for appeasement after condemning "urban violence".

Published on: 02/10/2026 - 08:06

Seven months before the presidential election, in an electric social and political climate, this mobilization is more than sensitive.

All prefects issued orders on Thursday evening prohibiting demonstrations on Friday near high schools closed that day, in response to a movement to block establishments punctuated by violence, AFP learned from the Ministry of the Interior.

Thus the Paris police prefect, Patrice Faure, banned gatherings around 13 Parisian high schools closed on Friday, the names of which were listed in the decree. In all departments, the same instructions were given, the Interior Ministry added.

Minister Laurent Nuñez, who brought together on Thursday evening the prefects, directors of the police and gendarmerie and heads of the intelligence services, denounced "a worsening of the situation which no longer has anything in the way of the legitimate expression of high school demands but now presents all the characteristics of a situation of urban violence".

According to the Prime Minister's services, it would be a "maneuver organized by LFI and its ultra-left proxies". Following these accusations, LFI coordinator Manuel Bompard criticized Matignon for “sinking into conspiracy”.

The Minister of National Education, Edouard Geffray, judged for his part that “the high school movement is being taken hostage by small, ultra-violent groups”.

Faced with this situation, he announced that the government was waiving the charge for registration fees for BTS or prep classes, a measure included in the 2027 draft budget presented the same morning and criticized by the left and several unions.

“The government is provoking student youth,” the rebellious leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon, presidential candidate, reacted on X after the announcement of this project.

Edouard Geffray also announced that he would receive on Friday the union organizations representing staff, parent associations, high school associations and elected officials from the National Council for High School Life.

His “objective”, he specified on X: “to make these exchanges concrete progress in the service of students, staff and the School”.

On Friday, many high schools have already planned to provide distance learning, particularly in Marseille.

In total on Thursday, "1,027 establishments", out of around 3,700 high schools in France, "were affected by the high school movement, including 222 blockages", according to the Ministry of the Interior. Students joined the movement, with around thirty campuses blocked.

The organizations are calling for a continuation of the movement, before a large demonstration on Tuesday.

© 2026 AFP

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