Politics · France · 4 hrs ago
Mélenchon backs French high school protests and proposes voting at 16
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a far-left candidate in France’s next presidential election, praised high school students protesting across the country at a rally in Clermont-Ferrand.
The protests are about deteriorating school buildings, teacher shortages and unequal conditions in disadvantaged neighborhoods.
The movement has sometimes turned violent, with more than 6,600 arrests and hundreds of people injured, including students, teachers and police.
Mélenchon said his party is not organizing the protests and wants them to remain peaceful, while critics accuse it of encouraging unrest for political gain.
He proposed lowering the voting age from 18 to 16 and ending selective university admissions, saying young people should have a greater say in politics.
The government has ordered urgent substitute teacher hires and changes to school schedules, but protesters say these steps are not enough.
More protests are planned for Tuesday and next Saturday, as France prepares for a presidential election in April and May next year.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon backed France’s high school protest movement at a campaign rally on Sunday.
He called for lowering the voting age to 16 and ending selective admission to universities.
The protests have focused on deteriorating school buildings, teacher shortages and inequalities affecting disadvantaged neighborhoods.
The movement has energized young voters ahead of France’s presidential election next year.
Mélenchon’s critics say he and his France Unbowed party are fueling the protests for electoral gain, while he says his party is not organizing them and wants them to remain peaceful.
- Who
- Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a French far-left presidential candidate, and high school student protesters.
- What
- Mélenchon backed the protest movement and proposed lowering the voting age to 16 and scrapping selective university admissions.
- When
- Sunday; the article was published on October 11, 2026.
- Where
- A campaign rally in Clermont-Ferrand, in southern France.
- Why
- The protests concern deteriorating school buildings, teacher shortages and inequalities affecting schools in disadvantaged neighborhoods.
Mélenchon’s critics
Jean-Luc Mélenchon
Role in the protests
Mélenchon’s critics
Critics say Mélenchon and his France Unbowed party are fueling the movement for electoral gain.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon
Mélenchon says his party is not organizing the movement.
Conduct of the protests
Mélenchon’s critics
Critics say the party is fueling a movement that has at times turned violent.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon
Mélenchon says he wants the movement to be peaceful.
a high level of political and union maturity
marking their entry into politics
We’re not preparing our children and grandchildren to die for some hazardous operation concocted by NATO
Dounia Georgeon spoke to The Associated Press at a protest at her school in eastern Paris.
Mélenchon backed the high school protest movement and proposed lowering the voting age to 16 at a rally in Clermont-Ferrand.
More protests are planned.
France is due to hold its two-round presidential election.
- Proposed voting age
- 16
- Proposed university admissions policy
- End selective admission
- Rally location
- Clermont-Ferrand, southern France
- Police arrests
- More than 6,600
- Presidential election
- Next year, in April and May
Sources
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