French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu addresses student anger following nationwide protests

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu gave a televised address from his official residence acknowledging that the anger of young people does not come from nowhere, Euronews reported. Lecornu stated that the government could not remain indifferent to the concerns of high school students and promised a plan to respond to the ongoing crisis. [1]

Addressing allegations of excessive force during recent demonstrations, Lecornu stated that French security forces do not have orders to confront protesting high school students, Euronews reported. The address comes after days of protests across the country left hundreds of students, police officers, and teaching staff injured. [1]

Student demonstrations began on September 21, 2026, over poor conditions in French schools, as FTMQ News reported earlier. President Emmanuel Macron held meetings with senior ministers to try to resolve the unrest, which expanded when teachers and trade unions joined the walkouts. Up to 500 high schools were forced to close, and the French Interior Ministry recorded 1,949 arrests on October 1, 2026. [3]

The chief minister or prime minister of France historically describes the official or royal favorite given wide-ranging powers to head the government. In the modern French republic, the prime minister functions as the head of government. [2]