The student movement that started in France over the poor condition of schools has now turned into a major protest against inflation and rising fuel prices. According to officials, about 5.5 lakh people took to the streets in protests across the country on Saturday. About 1.10 lakh people marched in Paris. There were clashes with the police at many places, looting of shops and burning of government buildings. 855 people were arrested in Paris and surrounding areas. This movement has raised a big question that why France, which is among the rich countries of the world, has to face continuous movements… 1. Demonstration in France is not a habit of the people, it is a strength. Taking to the streets against the decisions of the government in France is not a new thing. Here students, employees and common people have been demonstrating and striking to get their demands met. The history of France is also a big reason behind this. 2. Trade unions and strikes make the movement bigger. Trade unions in France organize large-scale strikes by uniting workers. Its impact is greater when employees of transport, school and other government departments stop work together. A big example of this was seen in 1995. The government of then Prime Minister Alain Juppé had proposed changes in pensions. In protest against this, employees of many sectors including railways went on strike. Rail services in France were badly affected and people in Paris faced problems in commuting. After several weeks of protests, the government had to withdraw important parts of its proposed plan. 3. The gap between the rich and the poor in France is also a reason for protest. Economic inequality between the rich and the poor has been an issue in France for a long time. This affects not only people’s earnings and lifestyle, but also children’s opportunities for education and progress. According to French government organization INSEE, the country’s richest 10% families own about 47% of the total wealth. At the same time, the 50% families with the lowest wealth have only 8% wealth. That means rich families have more wealth than half the country’s population. The effect of economic inequality is also visible in children’s education. According to a 2022 report by OECD, children from rich families in France scored an average of 113 points higher in mathematics than children from poor families. 4. The poor condition of schools also became a reason for the movement in 2026. The poor condition of schools in France became a major reason for the movement in 2026. Students complain that there is a shortage of teachers in schools, necessary facilities are not available and this is affecting their studies. France’s financial crisis and its increasing debt are also being cited as the reason behind this. France’s government debt is equal to 119.3% of its GDP. Due to slow economic growth rate and rising interest on debt, there is pressure on the government to manage the budget. The government also has to spend on areas like defence, hospitals, new technology and tackling climate change. In such a situation, deciding the budget for different sectors including education has become a challenge. 5. Why can the movement in France affect Europe? The protests taking place in France may also impact the politics of other countries in Europe. The sight of Palestinian flags and allegations of looting in shops could intensify the debate on national identity and law and order among people already angry over inflation, migration and government policies. Economic discontent is not new in Europe. From the Yellow Vest movement in France to the protests against inflation in Germany and Britain, the rising cost of living has been a major reason for people’s resentment. At the same time, debate is going on in many countries regarding border security and migration. In such an environment, right-wing parties like Marine Le Pen’s National Rally in France, AfD in Germany and Georgia Meloni’s party in Italy may get a chance to raise their issues. Prolonged political instability in France may also make it difficult to build consensus among European countries on issues such as defense, migration and the Russia-Ukraine war. ————————– Read this news also…. iPhones looted from shops in France, police ran away: Protestors arrived dressed as Joker, Captain America, set fire to a 143 year old building; 15 PHOTOS 8 lakh people took to the streets on Saturday against inflation in France. At many places, protesters threw stones at police vehicles and chased policemen. Read the full news here…
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