French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu addresses the nation amid a wave of student protests and blockades that disrupt high schools across France. Multiple outlets report the government is seeking to end the blockades and respond to student grievances, after demonstrations and school closures affect daily life.
Lecornu denies allegations that police were ordered to confront student protesters, according to Channel NewsAsia and other reporting. He also characterizes the protests’ anger as having underlying causes rather than emerging spontaneously, while condemning violence and saying there is no room for tolerance of violent acts. RFI reports Lecornu outlines steps that include a “timeout” for democratic discussion, with high schools clearing schedules for the rest of the week to allow time for debate and students to air concerns. The Local and CNA say he promises a plan to address key demands by the end of October.
