French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu defended the actions of police during recent student protests, following incidents where one teenager lost a hand and another suffered an eye injury. These events involved a police grenade and a projectile.
Police Actions and Reactions
In parliament, Lecornu refuted claims of police brutality or state oppression. He explained that the term “police brutality” implies officers were directed to use force, according to Politico. “What triggers police action is the occurrence of urban violence,” he stated. He acknowledged that accidents can occur during such events.
Lecornu, along with Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, stated that police responses were necessary due to urban violence, arson, and vandalism. Both maintained that officers operated within their powers. Nuñez described the police response as proportionate in almost all situations.
Political Fallout and Government Response
The prime minister accused the opposition party, France Unbowed, of using the protests to create disorder and gain political advantage as the presidential election approaches. President Emmanuel Macron convened an urgent meeting with top ministers to discuss the protests and their potential impact.
Over 6,500 arrests have occurred, with the majority involving minors, amid demands for better funding and learning conditions in schools. More than 215 students and 85 school staff members have been injured since the protests began, while 715 police officers sustained injuries, according to Lecornu.
Lecornu expressed the need for a political solution to address the high school students’ genuine concerns.
Nationwide Demonstrations
As Lecornu spoke, demonstrators from various French unions, teachers’ groups, and left-wing parties joined high school and university students in protests. The Interior Ministry estimated 266,000 participants nationwide on that day, including 56,000 in Paris. Most Parisian protests were peaceful, with only minor clashes reported by the Associated Press.
The protests originated in high schools around Paris in mid-September and have now spread across the country.
Notable Incidents During Protests
A police grenade explosion severely injured a 15-year-old in northern France, leading to the loss of his hand, Politico reported. It remains uncertain whether the student picked up the grenade or it was thrown at him.
In Tours, a 16-year-old lost vision in one eye after being struck by a projectile. The projectile could have been fired from a riot-control weapon used by police, as noted by the local prosecutor.
Boris Vallaud, head of the center-left Socialist group in parliament, announced plans to propose legislation. The new law would limit the use of sub-lethal riot-control weapons at student demonstrations. He emphasized that these weapons risk causing irreversible harm.
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