1,435 Arrested as French Student Leaders Reject Government Education Deal

French student leaders rejected a government package of education proposals on Monday, vowing to continue their demonstrations despite the new measures. The offer emerged from a meeting with government officials and includes capping the size of some classes, providing loans for school renovations, and replacing a university admissions system that students view as unfair.

Louis Letoublon, a representative of high school students, said the proposals did not meet all of their demands. He stated, "Not all our demands were met. We'll go on for as long as it takes." The group emerged from the meeting without immediate confirmation of the details from the government side. A press conference scheduled to announce the specifics was delayed.

The protests have escalated over the past week, beginning with student discontent and expanding to include trade unions and yellow vest activists. Violence broke out nine days ago, engulfing dozens of cities and raising fears that the state had lost control of the streets. The unrest has continued, with President Emmanuel Macron acknowledging the likelihood of more unrest this weekend.

Macron is preparing for a nationwide day of protests set for November 5. During a tour to survey damage in Marseille and thank emergency services after Saturday's events, he said he would maintain security measures and work to move protests outside of city centers. The minority government faces constraints, with national debt approaching 120% of GDP and high borrowing needs complicating the budget for next year.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez reported that 1,435 people were arrested nationwide during Saturday's demonstrations. He noted a new phenomenon where organized far-right gangs confronted far-left activists in several cities. Nunez said these groups arrived in organized formations in cities like Nice and Montpellier, mainly to target the ultra-left movement and defend businesses.

"We knew there had been calls from numerous identity-based and nationalist movements to come out, officially, to defend businesses," Nunez said. He added that in a number of cities, these groups arrived in organized formations, mainly to target the ultra-left movement. The government is trying to manage the situation while dealing with economic pressures.

The political landscape is shifting in response to the unrest. Marine Le Pen, the far-right candidate, has seen her poll ratings increase. A survey published on Sunday placed her at 32% to 33.5%, well ahead of her nearest rival, Jean-Luc Melenchon, who stands at 17%. Surveys suggest Le Pen would easily defeat Melenchon in a run-off ballot, which is expected to be held in early May of next year.

Financial markets reacted to the stability of the country's debt. A selloff in French government bonds paused on Monday after Moody's spared the country's sovereign debt a ratings downgrade on Friday. However, business leaders reported that the unrest continues to inflict heavy economic damage despite a calmer weekend.

Alain Di Crescenzo, head of the CCI France network of chambers of commerce and industry, said many retailers remained closed as a precaution following the violence of October 17. He noted that sales had fallen by about 80%. Di Crescenzo told Radio Classique, "We have shopkeepers who are tired and demoralized, and we are killing local commerce."

The government faces a difficult balance between addressing student demands and managing the national budget. The education package was designed to respond to weeks of chaotic street protests, but the student leaders maintain that the measures have fallen short. The demonstrations are expected to continue as the government works to implement the proposed changes and manage the ongoing public discontent.