French President Emmanuel Macron will hold a meeting with representatives of student organizations, in an effort to hear their demands as the country continues to face protests and tensions. According to French media, this is the first time Macron has met with student representatives since the demonstrations began in September.
Macron aims to listen closely to the concerns and demands of young people. The discussions are expected to focus on improving school infrastructure and reviewing France’s university admissions system, known as Parcoursup.
The situation in France remains tense after last weekend’s demonstrations. According to the Interior Ministry, around 550,000 people took part in the protests, while unions claim participation was even higher. The clashes have resulted in 2,397 arrests and 997 law enforcement officers injured, seven of them seriously.
Organizers have announced another wave of demonstrations for Saturday, October 24. Paris has extended restrictions on movement until Monday, while in several other cities, including Lyon, Marseille and Nice, complete bans on protests have been declared.
Macron’s meeting with student representatives takes place at a decisive moment, and it remains to be seen whether the dialogue will bring concrete responses to their demands or will be followed by further protests.