Across France, university campuses have seen a wave of student actions in recent days, with a notable gathering at Paris’s historic Sorbonne. On Thursday, police and young protesters clashed as demonstrations expanded against the policy directions proposed by presidential contenders Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron.
At the gates of Paris’s emblematic university, the Sorbonne, hundreds of students gathered and voiced dissent. The campus had been partially occupied since Wednesday after a student council criticized what it described as a misguided choice for the country’s presidency, signaling a broader unease with the two frontrunners in the race.
Following the first-round results, when Le Pen and Macron advanced to the runoff, demonstrations spread to multiple universities across the nation. On the Sunday after the vote, students organized rallies to express mobilization without directing voters to cast ballots for any candidate, reflecting a mood of frustration and cautious engagement rather than endorsement.
Many students argued that both candidates presented agendas that sounded constricting to France’s future, accusing them of pressuring the electorate in ways that could influence the political landscape for years to come. The sentiment voiced by many observers centered on fears of a backlash against progressive values and social protections, with some predicting abstention as a form of protest or hesitation about any vote in the second round.
The ranks of the protesters included activists affiliated with groups such as Solidarity, SOS Racisme, and various student unions. These organizations criticized immigration policies and argued that the policies of Le Pen and Macron shared common ground in ways that were unsatisfactory to a broad segment of the student community.
In an official statement from Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne University, it was noted that the central campus remained only partially active as classes were suspended until the following Saturday due to safety concerns and the ongoing demonstrations.
Near the Sorbonne, confrontations between students and riot police were visible. Protesters used tear gas and hurled objects as security forces sought to disperse crowds, highlighting the intensity of the dispute and the urgency felt by many participants to be heard in the electoral moment. The disturbances reflected wider tensions across the country as universities in other cities faced similar protests.
Reports of incidents surfaced from other major student centers, including Toulouse, Nantes, and Rennes, illustrating that discontent was not confined to a single region but resonated across France. The events underscored a broader conversation about democratic participation, the limits of political reform, and the role of youth in shaping the national debate during a pivotal electoral period.[Citation]