French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has defended the police response to student protests, which have resulted in several teenagers being severely injured. In parliament on Tuesday, Lecornu pushed back on accusations of police brutality, stating that the term implies officers had been instructed to use force. He argued that the police action was triggered by urban violence, arson, and vandalism.
Lecornu's comments came as the French government faces mounting pressure over the nationwide student protests, which have seen more than 6,500 people arrested and hundreds injured. The prime minister acknowledged that 215 students and 85 school staff members had been injured since the protests began, while his office reported that 715 police officers had also been injured.
The prime minister accused opposition party France Unbowed of exploiting the student protests to sow chaos and score political points ahead of next year's presidential election. He also stated that the police response was proportionate in "almost all cases." Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez made a similar statement, saying that the police had acted within their authority.
The protests, which began in mid-September, have seen widespread demonstrations across the country, with an estimated 266,000 people participating nationwide on Tuesday, including 56,000 in Paris. The Paris demonstration was largely peaceful, although smaller groups later clashed with riot police.
The incidents of police violence have sparked outrage, with one teenager losing a hand after being hit by a police grenade and another losing sight in one eye after being struck by a projectile. A prosecutor said that in the case of the teenager who lost a hand, it was unclear whether the student had picked up the grenade or whether it was thrown at him.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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