The protest movement, now into its third week, has exposed deep tensions in France between popular demands for investments in deteriorating public services and a cash-strapped government under pressure from bond markets to reduce its debt and deficit

International News via Reuters:

French teenagers blockaded some high schools and marched through cities on Thursday as the government promised to address their grievances about teacher shortages and dilapidated school buildings but gave few specific details.

The protest movement, now into its third week, has exposed deep tensions in France between popular demands for investments in deteriorating public services and a cash-strapped government under pressure from bond markets to reduce its debt and deficit.

Large crowds demonstrated in Paris and across the country from Lille in the north to Rennes and Nantes in the west, and Toulon and Marseille in the south.

The marches were peaceful, though scuffles between police and protesters took place at some locations in Paris and Nantes and police charged at a crowd and used water cannon in Rennes.

In Paris’ iconic Bastille square, where a large crowd had gathered, police charged protesters and used water cannon as dusk fell.

High-school teacher Diane Di Sciullo joined students at a large march in Marseille, saying all they were asking for was a decent education in decent conditions. She denounced overcrowding, saying this year she had 37 students in her class.

“At the start of every lesson, I have to ask them to check the neighbouring classrooms for spare chairs and desks so they can actually study,” she said.

Di Sciullo, 28, was carrying a placard that read, “I’m a teacher and my students help me catch cockroaches in class.”

MINISTER PROMISES URGENT ACTION

Education ministry figures showed the number of school blockades was gradually decreasing. It said 224 were closed in the morning, down to 157 by lunchtime, meaning that 96% of schools were open.

Education Minister Edouard Geffray said after meeting students and teachers in Reims that he was launching an emergency plan to ensure absent teachers are replaced, while heavy school timetables were also under review.

It is not uncommon for French teenagers to have lessons from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., as well as large amounts of homework.

Geffray also said he was working on potential improvements to Parcoursup, the national online portal for applying to university, which has been widely criticised as confusing and stressful for applicants.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu pledged late on Wednesday that the government would present “concrete, quick and fully funded responses” to the protests by late October, without offering specifics.

Student protest leaders said that was not good enough and called for further marches next Tuesday. There are also calls circulating online for a day of protests on October 17.

“Our demands must be heard. Yesterday, Mr Lecornu gave us a lot of hot air,” said Ryad Rani, leader of one of the student unions.

“The mobilisation will continue, we’re not backing down on anything.”

A prominent complaint featured on banners and placards was that the police response to the wave of protests has been too heavy-handed. “Too young to be listened to, old enough to be tear-gassed” was one example.

There have been hundreds of arrests and dozens of injuries since the movement started. On Wednesday, the government suspended the use of stun grenades in the policing of the protests after one teenager’s hand was blown off.

POLITICAL RESPONSE SHOWS POLARISATION AS ELECTION LOOMS

Six months from a presidential election, the protests have highlighted stark polarisation between leading candidates to replace Emmanuel Macron, who cannot seek a third term.

Far-right frontrunner Marine Le Pen has highlighted damage to schools caused by a minority of protesters and outlined plans to slash public spending should she win.

Her hard-left opponent Jean-Luc Melenchon, who also has a chance of making the runoff, has praised the protesters as “incredible” and denounced police brutality.

According to an Elabe poll for BFM TV, 72% of French people think the students’ demands are legitimate, but 55% of them think the protests should stop.

On Thursday, student protests were also taking place in the Belgian cities of Brussels, Ciney and Liege.

Grievances included rising costs, overcrowded classrooms, limited resources and increased teacher workloads.

In Liege, where police said almost 200 arrests had been made in connection with student protests this month, authorities have imposed a ban on public gatherings of more than three people until October 16.

However, police said a gathering in front of the city’s university had been authorised.

Additional reporting by Paris bureau and Charlotte Van Campenhout in Amsterdam; Writing by Estelle Shirbon; Editing by Timothy Heritage, Alison Williams, Aidan Lewis

Maricarmen Abascal, who died on Wednesday, had been hospitalised for severe anxiety and exhaustion since her eviction on September 23

International News via Reuters:

Spanish politicians traded blame on Thursday after the death of an 87-year-old woman whose eviction from her Madrid home ignited protests across the country and led to an early election being called for next month.     

Maricarmen Abascal, who died on Wednesday, had been hospitalised for severe anxiety and exhaustion since her eviction on September 23. No cause of death has been announced.

Protests over housing shortages and surging rents following her eviction prompted Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to call a snap general election for November 29 in the hope of increasing his parliamentary support.

After the octogenarian’s death, political leaders invoked her in attacks on opponents.

Left-leaning parties criticised the conservatives who had shot down decrees with housing measures aimed at curbing soaring rental prices. Right-wingers said the leftist central government had been unable to tackle the crisis after eight years in power. 

Alberto Nuñez Feijoo, leader of the conservative opposition People’s Party (PP), accused Sanchez and the Socialists of trying to exploit the housing crisis for political gain before the election.

“We will not allow this attempt to manipulate the emotions of the Spanish people; all of this has happened during their eight years in government. It won’t fly,” Feijoo said.

In the Madrid regional assembly, opposition leader Manuela Bergerot of the leftist Mas Madrid party said Maricarmen — as she has become known across Spain — had died because of “miserable people who put gain above a person’s life.”

She said the last thing Madrid regional leader Isabel Diaz Ayuso had done while Maricarmen was alive was “laugh at her” — a reference to when Ayuso quipped on September 28: “At what age do I get to stop paying my landlords? Let me know.”

Diaz Ayuso blamed Sanchez, saying Maricarmen had been evicted under his government.

PROTESTERS BLAME ‘GREEDY’ LANDLORDS   

News of the death enraged protesters camped out on squares in Spain’s main cities who chanted that she had been “murdered” because of the greed of her landlords.

“When everything is private, we will be deprived of everything,” said a placard on Madrid’s Puerta del Sol square, where mourners lit candles and left flowers honouring Maricarmen.

A march in her honour was due on Thursday evening from the square to her Madrid apartment. Outside the building, mourners left flowers, candles, handwritten notes and children’s drawings.

“Maricarmen was the straw that broke the camel’s back… (she was) a symbol of resistance and unity,” said Alex Marinero, a 21-year-old protester.

Tributes to Maricarmen in the Madrid region’s legislature also caused arguments as lawmakers accused each other of cynically exploiting the case.

The PP, which has absolute majorities in the Madrid regional and local assemblies, refused to hold a minute of silence honouring her.

Instead, hard-left deputies staged one outside City Hall and gave her a 60-second standing ovation during a tense debate in the regional assembly, while PP lawmakers remained seated with folded arms. 

A survey carried out in June and published by state pollster CIS on Thursday found 76.3% of Spaniards supported intervention in the market to guarantee access to housing, while 79% believe the right to housing should take precedence over treating homes as a market commodity.

Ombudsman Angel Gabilondo said addressing the housing crisis would require greater commitment from all levels of government.

He said his office was preparing a housing report and reiterated proposals including expanding public housing, restricting tourist rentals, increasing rent assistance and strengthening protections against evictions for vulnerable households.

Reporting by David Latona, Michael Francis Gore and Emma Pinedo; Editing by Aidan Lewis and Charlie Devereux