Eight weeks into ongoing student mobilizations across France, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu addressed a wave of unrest that included at least three deliberate arson attacks recorded on a Thursday morning at two Montpellier establishments, Radio France reported.
- Sébastien Lecornu demanded strict disciplinary and criminal penalties following arson attacks and threats against school staff in Montpellier.
- The government alleged that a minority of high schools experienced planned violence involving mortar deliveries and potential complicity from public service personnel.
- Critical voices from within political circles rejected the claims as scapegoating, while the Ministry of Education maintained that the incidents remain isolated.
The latest incidents involve at least three intentional fires set Thursday morning across two separate educational facilities in Montpellier. Alongside the property damage, local authorities confirmed that a high school principal was placed under police protection after receiving death threats.
The unrest follows weeks of demonstrations across the country. On Wednesday, the Ministry of Education called for a unanimous national condemnation of the escalating tactics used during the protests.
Speaking at a press conference following the conclusion of the Food Sovereignty Conferences, Lecornu called for severe disciplinary and criminal sanctions against perpetrators. He detailed a pattern of organized unrest in a minority of high schools, pointing to coordinated deliveries of mortars designed to supply agitators.
The Prime Minister went further by suggesting that some education workers might be involved in the disruption. “Exciter un mineur pour qu’il soit violent et derrière le regarder faire, c’est scandaleux,” said Sébastien Lecornu, without providing specific details regarding the accusation.
Contacted shortly after the announcement, the Ministry of Education sought to downplay the scope of the alleged insider involvement, stating that the incidents are strictly isolated.
The government’s handling of the unrest drew sharp criticism from former officials previously stationed on Rue de Grenelle. One former advisor rejected the official narrative, describing efforts to blame political opposition or internal staff as erratic management.
“C’est de la folie,” an anonymous former advisor told Radio France regarding the administration’s attribution of blame, adding that crisis leadership consistently deflects responsibility away from top officials.
Representatives at Matignon defended the official stance, maintaining that the statements relied exclusively on verified facts rather than political instrumentalization.
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