French President Emmanuel Macron says nationwide student protests include legitimate grievances but are being “exploited” by political forces. His comments come as demonstrations continue across France.
Multiple outlets report that Macron frames the unrest in the context of the presidential election campaign later this year. France 24 adds that he cites involvement and messaging from across the political spectrum: hard-left candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon takes part in a Paris demonstration, while hard-right frontrunner Marine Le Pen expresses support for police deployed at protest sites. The outlets differ mainly in the level of detail about specific politicians and their roles, but both present Macron’s view that protest activity is being used to advance partisan interests rather than solely reflecting students’ concerns.
