French Prime Minister Defends Police in Student Protests Amid Controversy
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has defended the police response to student protests in France, where incidents resulted in serious injuries. One teenager lost a hand due to a police grenade, while another lost sight in one eye after being hit by a projectile.
Speaking in parliament, Lecornu refuted allegations of police brutality, suggesting that the term implies officers were instructed to use excessive force. He emphasized that police action is typically a response to urban violence. He acknowledged that accidents can occur.
According to Reuters, French riot police were in close proximity to burning debris during clashes in Paris on October 6, 2026. Lecornu, along with Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, attributed the police response to instances of urban violence, arson, and vandalism. Nuñez stated that the police actions were proportionate in nearly all situations.
Lecornu criticized the opposition party, France Unbowed, accusing it of using the student protests for political gain ahead of the next presidential election. Meanwhile, President Emmanuel Macron held an emergency meeting with senior ministers to discuss the protests and their political implications.
The French government is under pressure after more than 6,500 arrests and numerous injuries happened during protests demanding better school funding and conditions. Most of those arrested were minors, as reported by the Associated Press. In Rennes, riot police confronted students with water cannons. Lecornu reported that there had been 215 student injuries and 85 school staff injuries since the protests began; his office noted that 715 police officers were also injured.
On the day of Lecornu’s remarks, demonstrators from various French unions and teacher groups, alongside high school and university students, gathered to protest. Left-wing political party members also joined, according to Politico.
The Interior Ministry reported that 266,000 people protested nationwide on that day, with 56,000 in Paris. The demonstration in Paris was largely peaceful, with minor conflicts occurring later between smaller groups and police, as per the Associated Press.
The protests started in high schools around Paris in mid-September and eventually extended across the country.
In northern France, a 15-year-old boy lost a hand when a grenade exploded during the protests, a prosecutor detailed. It remains unclear if he picked up the grenade or if it was directed at him. In Tours city, a 16-year-old’s eye was damaged by a projectile, potentially from a sub-lethal riot-control weapon used by police.
Boris Vallaud, the center-left Socialist group leader in parliament, announced plans to propose legislation to limit the use of sub-lethal riot-control weapons during student protests, highlighting the severe injuries they can cause.