Students blockade Paris schools in election protest
Students blockaded five schools in Paris on Tuesday to demonstrate their political concerns ahead of the second round of the Presidential elections on Sunday.
In addition to the five blockaded lycées, the université Paris 8 in Saint-Denis was closed "for security reasons".
The students - who are too young to make their voices heard at the ballot box - were protesting against the options available to voters in the second round - where incumbent Emmanuel Macron takes on far-right leader Marine Le Pen - and follows earlier student protests at the Sorbonne.
Many were demonstrating in protest at what they saw as inadequate policies on climate change and social issues from both candidates in the final round of voting, as well as the lack of choice for the electorate.
“It is a continuation of what happened at the Sorbonne,” one student told AFP. “We want a third social round, because the two candidates qualified for the second round have no social or ecological programmes.
"We want to give a new breath to this Fifth Republic a little at the end of the race.
“We are fed up with the fascist state. We are here against Marine Le Pen, against fascism, for the climate and against capitalism," another student at the lycée Louis-le-Grand in the capital’s fifth arrondissement said.
"We have blocked all the entrances. We will stay there as long as possible.”
Tentative de #blocus terminée à Henri IV mais les élèves occupent toujours Louis Le Grand et Fénelon#Presidentielle2022 https://t.co/gbf6F83rdW pic.twitter.com/gEdAlyDRzu
— Expression Lycéenne (@Elyceenne) April 19, 2022
About 100 students blockaded the prestigious school. Some students chant slogans against the "Front National" - the former name of second-round candidate Marine Le Pen’s far-right Rassemblement National party.
The blockades ended peacefully at the end of the day.
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In addition to the five blockaded lycées, the université Paris 8 in Saint-Denis was closed "for security reasons".
The students - who are too young to make their voices heard at the ballot box - were protesting against the options available to voters in the second round - where incumbent Emmanuel Macron takes on far-right leader Marine Le Pen - and follows earlier student protests at the Sorbonne.
Many were demonstrating in protest at what they saw as inadequate policies on climate change and social issues from both candidates in the final round of voting, as well as the lack of choice for the electorate.
“It is a continuation of what happened at the Sorbonne,” one student told AFP. “We want a third social round, because the two candidates qualified for the second round have no social or ecological programmes.
"We want to give a new breath to this Fifth Republic a little at the end of the race.
“We are fed up with the fascist state. We are here against Marine Le Pen, against fascism, for the climate and against capitalism," another student at the lycée Louis-le-Grand in the capital’s fifth arrondissement said.
"We have blocked all the entrances. We will stay there as long as possible.”
Tentative de #blocus terminée à Henri IV mais les élèves occupent toujours Louis Le Grand et Fénelon#Presidentielle2022 https://t.co/gbf6F83rdW pic.twitter.com/gEdAlyDRzu
— Expression Lycéenne (@Elyceenne) April 19, 2022
About 100 students blockaded the prestigious school. Some students chant slogans against the "Front National" - the former name of second-round candidate Marine Le Pen’s far-right Rassemblement National party.
The blockades ended peacefully at the end of the day.
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