Police on Wednesday (October 7) used tear gas on student protesters demonstrating outside Paris' prestigious Sciences Po university, in solidarity with high school blockades across the country.

Wednesday's university student protest comes after demonstrations swept across France on Tuesday (October 6) as teachers and parents took to the streets with high school pupils on the biggest day of what Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu described as the most violent student demonstrations in decades.

The protests were the latest manifestation of public anger in a country where support for populist parties on the far right and far left has surged ahead of a presidential election in the spring.

The government is under pressure to tame public debt amid weak growth, and has struggled with basic tasks such as passing a budget since President Emmanuel Macron's allies lost their majority in a 2024 parliamentary vote.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

PARIS, FRANCE (OCTOBER 7, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. RIOT POLICE PUSHING PROTESTERS NEAR BARRAGE OF GARBAGE BINS

2. POLICE DRAGGING AWAY GARBAGE BINS

3. POLICE PUSHING PROTESTERS, TEAR GAS BEING USED

4. VARIOUS OF TEAR GAS IN STREET, POLICE DRAGGING AWAY BINS

5. POLICE STANDING IN STREET

6. UNIVERSITY STUDENT PROTESTERS BOOING AND CHANTING, STANDING BEHIND BARRAGE OF BINS IN STREET

7. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS CHANTING, TAPPING ON BINS

8. PROTESTERS CHANTING (French): “Everyone hates the police”

9. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS CHANTING

10. SIGN ON GARBAGE BINS READING (French): “High schools repressed, universities enraged”

11. PROTESTERS, ONE HOLDING SIGN READING (French): “Stay young and revolt”

12. PROTESTERS DRESSED IN BLACK, ONE WAVING FRENCH FLAG

13. PROTESTERS CHANTING AND CLAPPING

14. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS STANDING NEAR BARRAGE OF GARBAGE BINS