France braces for new nationwide strike and mass protests

A new large-scale nationwide strike and mass protest movement will take place across France on October 13. The announcement was made by the Coordinating Committee, which unites the country’s major unions representing university students, high school students, and education professionals, according to French media outlets.

Sophie Binet, General Secretary of the General Confederation of Labour (CGT), noted that high school student protests have already been ongoing for several weeks and called on the government to revise its draft budget.

"The mobilization of these students forces you to acknowledge your responsibility. Youth is our most precious asset. Do not assume you can resolve this crisis with superficial measures," Binet stated, pointing to overcrowded lecture halls, missed classes, and systemic barriers to higher education.

Meanwhile, Sabrine Harbach, spokesperson for the Student Union, declared that protests will persist until authorities allocate the requested €10 billion for the education sector. She highlighted that this figure represents the bare minimum required to "end student poverty and address the deterioration of educational facilities."

According to various estimates, up to €15 billion is needed to resolve critical issues across the education and healthcare sectors.

Since the onset of the movement, more than 6,800 individuals have been arrested, the vast majority of whom are minors.