荻上チキ・Session～発信型ニュース・プロジェクト · News
【解説】フランスのデモが拡大～その背景は（吉田徹）
Protests have spread across France to 550,000 participants in five successive waves, prompting President Macron to deliver an emergency address on October 18. Doshisha University professor Yoshida Toru explained how high school students' education reform demonstrations escalated into a broader wave of anger over soaring living costs, with education budget cuts — symbolized by unusable school toilets and exams held during a heat wave — fueling long-accumulated frustration. The Macron administration's approval rating has fallen to a record low of 15% as a presidential election looms next spring.
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What this episode answers
Why have the protests in France grown to such a large scale?
The protests, now in their fifth wave since last month, began as high school students demonstrating against education reform, but they have merged with widespread social discontent over inflation and the rising cost of living that had been quietly building for years — the high school demonstrations gave that frustration an outlet, according to Professor Yoshida.
What specific demands are the protesters making?
Student unions are primarily demanding an increase in teachers, the abolition or reform of the university admissions platform Parcoursup introduced under the Macron administration, and a relaxation of the pace of coursework; calls to reverse cuts to housing subsidies are also mixed in, reflecting the broader cost-of-living anger among participants.
What is the state of France's education environment and budget?
Education budgets have been gradually cut in line with a declining birth rate, while infrastructure investment has not kept pace — many schools have toilets that have been out of service for extended periods, and end-of-term exams were held during this summer's intense heat wave; the government has promised to hire more teachers, but the time required to train them means the response looks insufficient to high school students.
What is the Macron administration's approval rating, and how are citizens responding?
Polling shows 70% of the public supports the high school students' protests, and trade unions are broadly supportive even if not directly participating; the Macron administration's approval rating has fallen to a record low of 15%, with its lame-duck status accelerating ahead of the two-round presidential election scheduled for April and May next year.
What trajectory are the protests expected to take going forward?
With France entering roughly two weeks of autumn school holidays this week, it will become harder for students to gather at schools and the protests may gradually subside; however, as the presidential campaign builds momentum, every candidate's positions on higher education and cost-of-living measures will continue to be scrutinized.
The Spread of Protests and the "Five Waves"
Protests have swept across France in five successive waves since last month. What began at specific high schools has grown with each new wave: on the 17th, demonstrations broke out at 110 locations nationwide. The Interior Ministry reported 550,000 participants; clashes with security forces resulted in approximately 2,400 arrests and around 1,000 injuries, including police officers. President Macron delivered an emergency address on the 18th, declaring that all measures — including bans on public assembly — would be taken, while also emphasizing a commitment to continued dialogue with students.
From Education Reform Protests to Anger Over the Cost of Living
The protests were sparked by high school and university students demonstrating against education reform. Student unions' main demands include hiring more teachers, abolishing or revising the university admissions platform Parcoursup (パルクールスップ) introduced under the Macron administration, and easing the pace of coursework. Professor Yoshida Toru (吉田徹) of Doshisha University, however, pointed to a deeper cause for the protests' scale: widespread social frustration over hardship and inflation that had been accumulating beneath the surface. "The high school demonstrations gave it an outlet," he argued. Separate protests against cuts to housing subsidies are also under way, and the profile and demands of participants have grown increasingly diverse.
Education Budget Cuts and Deteriorating Conditions on the Ground
France has been gradually trimming its education budget in line with a declining birth rate, and capital investment has not kept pace. At many schools, toilets have remained out of service for extended periods; this year's intense summer heat meant end-of-term exams were held in sweltering conditions. Frustration among students and teachers has been building for years.
The government has promised to hire additional teachers, but training takes time, and the pace of progress looks woefully inadequate to high school students. On the cost-of-living front, the government has introduced measures such as free breakfasts at primary schools and €1 (roughly ¥180) cafeteria lunches at secondary schools and universities. Even so, Professor Yoshida noted that "no decisive policy has been found."
The Macron Administration's Predicament and Public Opinion
Polling shows 70% of the public supports the high school students' protests. Trade unions have not joined the demonstrations directly but broadly back them. Meanwhile, the Macron administration's approval rating has dropped to a record low of 15%. With the two-round presidential election scheduled for April and May next year, the administration's lame-duck status is set to accelerate further.
The Question of Violence and the Outlook Ahead
Media coverage of the protests has focused heavily on looting and arson carried out by a minority of participants. Some high school students are involved, but the violence also includes incidents caused by anarchist and anti-capitalist groups that have seized on the demonstrations. Inside France, there is equally fierce criticism directed at police violence: the Macron administration has authorized more direct use of force by officers to deter disorder, and criticism has mounted over injuries sustained by protesters — high school students among them.
Looking ahead, France enters roughly two weeks of autumn school holidays this week, making it harder for students to gather at schools; the protests may gradually subside as a result. However, with the presidential campaign building momentum, Professor Yoshida expects that every candidate's positions on higher education and cost-of-living policy will continue to face intense scrutiny in the months ahead.
Takeaways
- France's protests have swelled to 550,000 participants across five waves, as high school students' education reform demonstrations merged with wider social anger over inflation and the rising cost of living.
- The Macron administration's approval rating has hit a record low of 15%, and its lame-duck status is accelerating ahead of next year's presidential election, with education and cost-of-living policy set to be key campaign battlegrounds.
- The autumn school holiday may bring a temporary lull, but structural problems in French education — teacher shortages, deteriorating facilities, and sustained budget cuts — remain unresolved, and no decisive policy response has yet been offered.
This article is edited from a machine transcript of the first 30 minutes of the episode. It is not an official summary — please listen to the episode itself.